SCHOLARS UNLIMITED
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Mission Statement
Scholars Unlimited's mission is to support low-income, academically struggling young learners by providing rigorous literacy instruction and enrichment programs in order to help students achieve measurable academic growth and to inspire a passion for life-long learning.
About This Cause
Scholars Unlimited provides comprehensive after-school and summer learning programs to at-risk elementary students. Our primary academic focus is literacy, because reading is the foundation for all learning. In fact, it is often said that in the early years of school, children are learning to read -- but by the time they begin fourth grade, children must be able to read to learn. Early reading proficiency is also an indicator of probable academic success: Children who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times as likely to drop out and never earn a high school diploma; children who live in poverty that cannot ready proficiently by the end of third grade are SIX times as likely to drop out. However, children who live in poverty typically begin school with far fewer experiences and much smaller vocabularies than their more affluent peers -- what is sometimes called the "opportunity gap" -- and therefore are in need of extra supports and intervention in order to be successful in school. Scholars Unlimited's literacy program provides small-group instruction (1 certified teacher for every 6 students) and self-paced, computer-based learning for a blended-learning program. At the beginning of each program, children are assessed using the DIBELS Next to determine their strengths and learning needs. DIBELS results inform instruction, enabling teachers to provide individualized supports for each child. DIBELS assessments at the conclusion of each program measure each child's individual progress, and enable Scholars Unlimited to evaluate it program effectiveness overall. Because comprehensive out-of-school-time programs boost academic achievement more than tutoring alone, Scholars Unlimited provides a variety of enrichment and recreation activities in addition to tutoring. Our enrichment offerings (often provided by community partners) enable students to explore the arts, science and technology, nutrition and cooking, health and fitness, financial literacy, service learning, and a host of other areas. Through enrichment programming, students are able to: > participate in hands-on learning and apply academic skills to real-world situations, > develop knowledge in a variety of content areas, > explore activities they might not otherwise experience, and > discover new interests and spark new passions. Enrichment activities also help students develop skills that are critical for employment success, including planning, collaborative decision-making, communication and conflict resolution, and problem-solving. Scholars Unlimited's signature summer learning program is offered five days per week, for six or seven weeks, at partner schools. The Scholars After School program is offered five days a week for 30 weeks, again at partner schools to create a seamless transition from the school day to after-school programming. Our student population is considered at-risk: > More than 90 percent of our students qualify for free/reduced price school lunches -- a key indicator of poverty. > Nearly half of our students come from families in which English is a second language. > Fewer than a third of our students live in two-parent households ... and a full 15 percent live with custodial relatives or in foster care.