United Way of Tampa Bay’s Summer Care:
Innovative child care, financial education for parents.
Summer, when children are away from school, is a particularly vulnerable time for children’s education. Children “at-risk”, especially those living in poverty, lose the equivalent of two months of reading during the summer1. Over time, this learning loss is compounded so that at the end of their elementary school experience, they may be over two-years behind their peers in reading2. Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities3. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college.
To address this disparity, children in poverty need access to the same resources and opportunities as their peers. Children need to be involved in quality summer programs, have access to books, and supported with appropriate instruction in reading to maintain the skills acquired during the school year. That is why providing academic opportunities for low income children is a part of United Way's innovative Summer Care program.
Summer Care began in 2005 to assist low-income, working families with child care. The program has evolved over time to its current form – impacting both financial stability and education goals. Families may now take part if they are working, in school, or seeking work.
The program has three goals:
1. To provide free full-time child care during the summer for low-income families
2. To provide financial education to the parents
3. To address summer learning loss disparities of low-income children
Every child at the participating non-profit agencies receives a Summer Bridge Activities book. This award-winning curriculum is designed to reinforce basic skills and prepare children for their next school year in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and fitness. Last summer, 2,543 children received academic instruction for a minimum of 30 minutes, 5 days per week throughout the summer.
In addition, pre-service teachers from the St. Petersburg College of Education provided intensive reading tutoring to 208 children who were struggling with reading. As a result of this tutoring, 68% of these children increased their reading skills and 58% are now reading on grade level.
Innovative child care, financial education for parents.
Summer, when children are away from school, is a particularly vulnerable time for children’s education. Children “at-risk”, especially those living in poverty, lose the equivalent of two months of reading during the summer1. Over time, this learning loss is compounded so that at the end of their elementary school experience, they may be over two-years behind their peers in reading2. Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities3. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college.
To address this disparity, children in poverty need access to the same resources and opportunities as their peers. Children need to be involved in quality summer programs, have access to books, and supported with appropriate instruction in reading to maintain the skills acquired during the school year. That is why providing academic opportunities for low income children is a part of United Way's innovative Summer Care program.
Summer Care began in 2005 to assist low-income, working families with child care. The program has evolved over time to its current form – impacting both financial stability and education goals. Families may now take part if they are working, in school, or seeking work.
The program has three goals:
1. To provide free full-time child care during the summer for low-income families
2. To provide financial education to the parents
3. To address summer learning loss disparities of low-income children
Every child at the participating non-profit agencies receives a Summer Bridge Activities book. This award-winning curriculum is designed to reinforce basic skills and prepare children for their next school year in reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and fitness. Last summer, 2,543 children received academic instruction for a minimum of 30 minutes, 5 days per week throughout the summer.
In addition, pre-service teachers from the St. Petersburg College of Education provided intensive reading tutoring to 208 children who were struggling with reading. As a result of this tutoring, 68% of these children increased their reading skills and 58% are now reading on grade level.
- A Kids Count Special Report.2010. Learning to Read: Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters. Cooper et al 1996. The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review. Review of Educational Resources. 66,3.
- Cooper, H., Nye, B., Charton, K., Lindsay, J., & Greathouse, S. (1996). The effects of summer vacation on achievement test scores: A narrative and meta-analytic review. Review of Education Research,66 (3), 227-368
- Allington, R. L. (2011). What really matters for struggling readers: Designing research-based programs. New York: Addison-Wesley.
The Families:
- The average household income for the families participating in the program is approximately $18,509 (based on 2010 evaluation).
- 88% of the families would not have been able to maintain their job without this program.
- Approximately half of the families reported that they would have left their child with a non-family member without this program.
Summer Care Sites:
Hillsborough County:
A Brighter Community
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay - Sulphur Springs
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – North Tampa
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Steinbrenner
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Interbay
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Wilbert Davis
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay -Brandon
Police Athletic League
Tampa YMCA – Bob Gilbertson facility
United Cerebral Palsy
A Brighter Community
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay - Sulphur Springs
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – North Tampa
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Steinbrenner
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Interbay
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Wilbert Davis
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay -Brandon
Police Athletic League
Tampa YMCA – Bob Gilbertson facility
United Cerebral Palsy
Pinellas County:
Life Force Cultural Arts Academy
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Wood Valley
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- North Greenwood
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Northside
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Pinellas Park
Friends of Happy Workers
Girls Inc.
YMCA of the Suncoast - Greater Ridgecrest
YMCA of the Suncoast - Clearwater
YMCA of the Suncoast - Highpoint
YMCA of Greater St. Pete – Harbordale facility
Life Force Cultural Arts Academy
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Wood Valley
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- North Greenwood
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Northside
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast- Pinellas Park
Friends of Happy Workers
Girls Inc.
YMCA of the Suncoast - Greater Ridgecrest
YMCA of the Suncoast - Clearwater
YMCA of the Suncoast - Highpoint
YMCA of Greater St. Pete – Harbordale facility
Our Investment:
Over the past five years, more than $3 million dollars have been invested at ten non-profit agencies located in 20 low-income communities across the Tampa Bay region. More than 3,500 children who otherwise would not have been able to afford it received quality child care during the summer.
Over the past five years, more than $3 million dollars have been invested at ten non-profit agencies located in 20 low-income communities across the Tampa Bay region. More than 3,500 children who otherwise would not have been able to afford it received quality child care during the summer.