The Birmingham-based Summer Adventures in Learning (SAIL) is awarding $785,600 in grants to 29 independent summer learning programs in the Birmingham area and the Blackbelt region. Grantees will use the funds to offer comprehensive reading and math instruction combined with athletic and other camp-specific activities based on their students’ interests.
SAIL was founded in 2012 to build support for rigorous summer learning across the state. It helps educational groups, faith-based foundations, and other community organizations to invest in high-quality summer learning programs and fosters a culture of collaboration among providers. SAIL facilitates assessments, peer learning, and funding opportunities to ensure that high-quality summer learning programs thrive in Alabama.
“SAIL is excited to provide this funding and other support and assistance to summer learning programs across Birmingham and the Black Belt,” said Jim Wooten, the chair of Summer Adventures in Learning. “Every year we see new evidence that reinforces the need for investments in high-quality summer learning. The programs receiving funding this year have shown tremendous gains in reading, math and social skills, helping students succeed during the summer and into the school year.”
In the summer of 2021, 2,000 students participated in a SAIL-supported summer learning camp. Eighty-five percent of students who enrolled completed the full program, and the programs reported an average daily attendance of 84 percent. On average, SAIL students gained 3.2 months in math and 2.6 months in reading. Both totals were record highs for academic growth since SAIL began testing students.
SAIL does not require its grantees to follow a specific curriculum. This flexibility allows each site to design a summer learning program that meets students where they are academically; is tailored to the child’s interests; and addresses the needs of the whole child.
The 2022 SAIL grantees include:
♦ American Baseball Foundation Inc
♦ BAMA Kids, Inc.
♦ Bethel Baptist Church Collegeville
♦ Blount County Education Foundation
♦ Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama
♦ Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama
♦ Breakthrough Birmingham
♦ BridgeWays
♦ Build A Better Community
♦ By Faith Community Development
♦ CASED, Inc.
♦ College Admissions Made Possible
♦ Genius MAP
♦ Grace Klein Community
♦ Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
♦ IMPACT Family Counseling
♦ Independent Presbyterian Church
♦ Kingdom Family Christian Fellowship
♦ Lifting as We Climb Foundation
♦ Literacy Council (Walker County)
♦ NAME Ministries
♦ Neighborhood Academy, Inc.
♦ Roanoke City Schools
♦ Sawyerville
♦ Tarrant City Schools
♦ Theo Ratliff Activity Center
♦ Urban Hope Development
♦ YMCA of Greater Birmingham
♦ Zion Spring Baptist Church
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