×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

United Way of Utah County: Supporting education is a year-round effort

By Bill Hulterstrom - | Aug 21, 2021

A student at South Franklin Community Center reads with a volunteer as part of the Summer Learning Program. (Courtesy photo)

As we approach the end of the summer and the start of a new school year, I’m reminded of the importance of investing in our children’s education at all times of the year. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom, although our classrooms and teachers continue to be exemplary and are essential to our children’s success. In order for us to ensure that our children have the support they need in all aspects of their lives, which is crucial to their education, each of us needs to find ways to promote learning in our community. One excellent example of such focus on learning can be found at the South Franklin Community Center.

Each summer, the staff members and volunteers at South Franklin implement a summer learning program for local students. This year, the impact of this program on the lives of participants has been particularly impressive and demonstrates the power that community learning activities can have for our children.

The activities in South Franklin’s summer learning program are designed to promote literacy and STEM skills among participants. These activities include everything from reading events, to science experiments, to field trips that teach the kids about fossils. The program is run by an incredible team, led by Stephanie Anderson, the EveryDay Learners director at United Way of Utah County. “It’s very important that our team members have good relationships with the kids,” Anderson explains. “These relationships are crucial to the success of the program.”

This year, the summer learning team served 64 children. Approximately 90% of those participants completed pre-post surveys, which allowed program staff to measure the impact of the program activities. While the program’s goals were ambitious, the kids in the program showed even greater increases in their learning than the team had originally anticipated. For example, at the beginning of the summer, the team had a goal that by the end of the program, 75% of kids would retain or exceed their pre-survey math scores. At the end of the program, 96% of kids in the program had achieved that goal. Ninety-three percent of the students were reading at grade level at the end of the summer. Six of those students increased their reading levels by two or even three grade levels during their time in the summer learning program.

As impressive as these statistics are, the impact of the summer learning program went beyond academic gains. Anderson saw significant increases in self-confidence among participants, as well. For example, at the end of the summer, the students prepared and performed a puppet show for their parents. This show was very well-attended, with more than 100 audience members coming to support the kids. “One of the kids who participated in the puppet show was a young girl who had been struggling with language and was very shy at the beginning of the summer. She was very withdrawn and was reluctant to engage with the teachers and other kids. Although she was entering the sixth grade, she was reading at a first grade level. But by the end of the summer, her reading scores increased about two grade levels. She would look people in the eyes, she would come up to talk to them independently, and she did a fantastic job at the puppet show! The friendships that the kids make during the program really help them build social-emotional skills while they learn more academic skills like reading and math,” Anderson explains.

South Franklin Community Center's Summer Learning Program students. (Courtesy photo)

Another reason this summer’s program was so successful was the outpouring of support from parents and neighbors. “We had more parent involvement this year than we have ever had before,” Anderson says. Parents were dedicated supporters of their children’s events, and they have even started preparing for next year’s program. Parents have asked for more information about upcoming classes so they can emphasize the same topics with their children at home.

This kind of holistic support for learning is essential for all of our kids. As they prepare to go back into the classrooms, it is important for us to keep providing learning support at home and across the community. There are many ways to encourage learning; one of the most effective ways to do so is to support programs like South Franklin’s summer learning program. There are many wonderful organizations in our community that dedicate resources to supporting education, and they need our help in order to keep providing those services. If your circumstances permit, please consider donating funds to support such programs.

As we all prepare for another school year, please take some time to identify areas where you can give to support education in our community. Do you have time to volunteer in your child’s classroom? Are you able to donate funds to ensure that wrap-around educational services can continue serving local children? Are there kids in your neighborhood who would benefit from your spending time helping them with their homework? Each of us has something that we can give in order to help all of our children learn.


For more information about supporting education in Utah County, please visit unitedwayuc.org.

A student at South Franklin Community Center's Summer Learning Program prepares for a puppet show. (Courtesy

Students at South Franklin Community Center's Summer Learning Program perform a puppet show. (Courtesy photo)

A student at South Franklin Community Center's Summer Learning Program participates in learning activities. (Courtesy photo)

A student on a field trip with South Franklin Community Center's Summer Learning Program. (Courtesy photo)

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)