Summer Learning Program 2016 Brain Forest Summer Learning Program Montgomery Education Foundation

2016 Program Partners Montgomery Public Schools The City of Montgomery & Montgomery Parks and Rec Montgomery County Commission Central Alabama Community Foundation Kiwanis Club of Montgomery Foundation Montgomery Area Food Bank The  Junior League of Montgomery MT Selby Fund BBVA Compass Bank Till Family Charitable Fund Loeb Family Fund The Working Women’s Home Association Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Beta Nu Chapter

Program Overview Full-day, 5 week academic enrichment program Primary goal: Prevent the academic skill loss that most students experience when their minds are not actively engaged during the summer. Four key components: academic instruction nutritious meals cultural arts and enrichment physical activity All program components are based on high quality best practices Building Community

Program History 2013 – 1st year of the pilot program; enrolled 49 rising 4th grade students at one site - E.D. Nixon Elementary 2014 – 2nd year of the program; enrolled 168 rising 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students at two school sites – Carver High School and E.D. Nixon Elementary 2015 – 3rd year of the program; enrolled 204 rising 4th, 5th and 6th grade students at one school site - Carver High School 2016 4th year of the program enrolled 237 rising 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students one site – Carver High School

Academic Instruction MATH READING STEM STEM iPads Novels 13 classrooms 18:2 student: adult ratio Pre and Post Test using Scantron Achievement Series for targeted Reading and Math standards Reading Instruction: centered on grade level novels; reading comprehension; vocabulary building Math Instruction: centered on project-based, hands-on activities and manipulatives STEM STEM Novels iPads

Cultural/Arts Enrichment & Physical Activity Two afternoons a week of STEM enrichment led by Starbase Daily reacreation/physical activity provided by Montgomery Parks and Recreation Department Financial Literacy lessons provided by BBVA Compass Friday field trips kayaking fishing swimming archery financial literacy STEM horseback riding

Professional Development Student-engaged assessment model Teachers create daily and monthly “learning targets” which translate CCRS standards into child-friendly, engaging language Teachers and students use “I can” statements on a daily basis to understand and track learned material Students actively participate in on-going assessment of their own progress Earned CEU credits – 1st time in the program’s history Professional Development laboratory open to all MPS principals and teachers based on the text Leaders of Their Own Learning by Ron Berger One week of training/PD prior to student start Weekly, 2 hr. PD sessions Observation and hands-on experience in the classrooms

Leaders of Their Own Learning Daily learning targets and “I can” statements are posted clearly and daily to correspond with hands-on work being done in the classroom

Project-based and Hands-on Learning Approach Reading instruction is based on a single novel Math instruction is hands-on and ties back to reading curriculum Activities are hands-on, kinesthetic learning as often as possible

Student-Engaged Activities

Attendance 2015 Average Attendance: 73% 2016 Average Attendance = 85% Enrollment:237 Attendance: 230 74% of students attended at least 75% to 100% of the program 2015 Average Attendance: 73% 2016 Average Attendance = 85%

Scantron Achievement Series On average, no loss in math or reading was experienced. Reading: The greatest improvement in scores on average was a 7% gain across all three grade levels.   Math: A 4% gain was experienced across all three grade levels. An Alabama normed assessment used to measure proficiency in reading and math Used to develop Pre and Post tests during 1st week and last week of program MEF partnered with MPS Curriculum Dept. to identify standards with typical low performance across district

Reading Proficiency (based on Pre and Post Test)

Math Proficiency (based on Pre and Post Test)

30 MPS elementary schools represented Schools with the highest numbers: Dannelly Elementary Garrett Elementary Catoma Elementary Macmillan International Halcyon Elementary Floyd Elementary

Voices That Matter! Students,Parents, & Staff Survey Results

Student Survey Results Students in all three grade levels received a survey that they completed anonymously on site during the final week of the program. In total, 168 students completed the survey. 92% Agreed/strongly agreed that the program was fun 98% Agreed/strongly agreed that their summer teachers care about them and want them to do their best 77% Agreed that they learned new things about math and reading 83% Agreed that they learned new ways to think during the summer 75% Agreed that they would want to attend the program next year From the Voices of Our Students: “What I liked most about Brain Forest was that they turned learning into something fun.” – 5th Grader “The thing I like most about the program is that my teacher is teaching me new things. I appreciate my teacher.” – 4th Grader

Parent Survey Results Parents/guardians of students in all three grade levels received anonymous take-home surveys during the final week of the program. In total, 70 parents/guardians completed the survey.

Staff Survey Results (anonymous) Common Responses About Program Experiences: Relationships were built with other staff members Professional development was useful during the program and will be in their own classrooms. Confidence as an educator was built Professional growth occurred using project-based learning Staff Survey Results (anonymous) Professional Growth: 100% Agreed that they grew professionally during the program Agreed that they learned new skills, lesson, and approaches that they could take into their classroom during the school year Agreed that they felt that they made a difference in their students’ lives Training and Implementation: 100% Agreed that they will use what they learned in Brain Forest in their classrooms during the school year. Agreed that PD will be helpful to them in their classroom during the school year 75% Rated training week a 7 or above on a scale of 1 to 10 Two teachers rated it a full 10 100% Agreed that the professional development was useful 83% Agreed that training prepared them

We Believe Our Kids and Teachers Can… Thank you for your support!