KIDS CORPORATION II

 

Model Kids Schools

The mission of Kids Corporation’s Kids School initiative is to improve the academic preparation and educational motivation of elementary school children in Newark. We accomplish this goal by bringing the program to one location for 3-5 years, providing hands-on learning in a year-round after-school and summer academic program,  supplemented with educational incentive field trips and recreational activities.  Currently, we operate our Kids School at Lady Liberty Academy Charter School in the Lincoln Park section.

 

What is unique to our model is the combination of trained classroom teachers and college student teacher-assistants: each of our classrooms is staffed by three adults who bring a fusion of experience, energy, wisdom, fresh ideas, mentoring and dedication to our kids.  Every summer, our students improve their math and reading rates by average of one full grade level in six weeks.  During the school year, our after-school students progress at twice the rate of their school-day peers. 

 

In addition to the academic component, children attending Kids Schools participate in our Mountain Classroom and Kids Summer Camp programs at Kids Camp, have access to medical exams and follow-up care, go on educational and cultural field trips, and receive new school supplies, book bags and winter coats.  Our Kids Schools are where we demonstrate the incredible impact Kids Corporation can have when all of our resources are brought to bear on one school.  These successful and replicable programs are supported in large part by New Jersey After 3 and The Victoria Foundation (since 1973).

 

Summer School Activities

 

Students attend the summer academic program daily, Monday through Friday for 7 hours each day.  The educational component features hands-on, interdisciplinary learning at all levels, using a theme-based curriculum in reading, language arts, math, science, and Newark history. Reading is heavily stressed and writing is incorporated into every subject.

 

We take the children on educational and cultural adventure trips each week to supplement classroom lessons with experiential learning, including five trips to Kids Summer Camp for a full day of nature studies, hiking, leadership and teamwork games, fine arts, and pool and field recreation.  Every student receives a free medical, dental and vision exam each summer, and we coordinate and provide follow-up care.

After-School Activities

 

Students attending the after-school program every school day from 3:30-6:30pm for structured, engaging academic lessons in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, geography and history.  Homework assistance and advanced augmentation of the regular school day’s lessons are included each day. The classes are taught by experienced head teachers in addition to volunteer teacher-assistants from local colleges, who double as mentors and role models.  

 

To supplement classroom learning we take students on two to four supplemental field trips each year.  We use the trips both as an incentive for students and as opportunities to expand their horizons beyond their everyday experiences.  In addition, all after-school students receive new book bags and school supplies in September, winter coats and Christmas toys in December, and medical exams and healthcare year-round.

 

AVERAGE RATE OF IMPROVEMENT IN GRADE LEVELS FOR KIDS SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS (ALL GRADES) *
UNITED ACADEMY BESSIE GREEN EL CLUB DEL BARRIO
2003 ** 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005
READING 0.5 1.3 1.4 0.9 0.8 1.1
LANGUAGE ARTS 0.4 1.6 .9 1.1 1.1 1.2
MATH 0.4 1.0 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.1

 
AVERAGE RATE OF IMPROVEMENT IN GRADE LEVELS FOR KIDS SCHOOL AT UNITED ACADEMY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM (ALL GRADES) *
2002-2003 2003-2004
PARTICIPATING STUDENTS NON-PARTICIPATING*** PARTICIPATING STUDENTS NON-PARTICIPATING***
READING .77 .48 .94 .39
LANGUAGE ARTS .74 .52 1.08 .60
MATH .66 .43 .96 .66

* Every student in a Kids Corporation model school is given the "3 R's for Elementary School Students" test on the first and last day of the program. The difference between the Pre-Test average and Post-Test average is the number of grade levels the students improved over the course of the program. Each tenth of one point corresponds to approximately one month of schooling. 

** In the summer of 2003, students at the Kids School at United Academy were given an experimental advanced test, which resulted in the appearance of "lower" averages.

*** In the Kids School at United Academy After-School Program, the entire school is tested on the first and last days of the school year. We can then compare the progress of the 100 United Academy school students who participate in the after-school with the 100 "Non-participating" students who attend only the regular school day.

 

If you are a parent who would like information on enrolling your child in a Kids Corp program,

please call 973-877-0980, ext. 10, and speak with Ms. Rumana Bandookwala.