BELL

BELL was founded in 1992 by a group of Black and Latino students at Harvard Law, led by Earl Martin Phalen and Andrew L. Carter. The students began a small tutoring program in a local school, where most children could not read, write or do math operations at grade-level proficiency. Since that time, every member BELL's first class of scholars has enrolled in or graduated from college -- compared to only 30% of their peers. BELL evolved and complemented its BELL After School program with the BELL Summer program to achieve an even greater impact on children's lives.

We hope that, in pursuing our mission, our impact on children is not limited to the reach of our programs, but that they also present models to be replicated and applied throughout the world to help thousands, even millions of children excel. There is no limit to the impact we can have on education, just as former BELL scholar Mousson from BELL's first class demonstrates that there is no limit to what a child can achieve with the support and guidance of caring tutors and mentors.


1992		BELL begins tutoring and mentoring program at the Agassiz school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1993		BELL partners with the Tobin Elementary School in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and establishes itself as a non-profit organization. Co-Founder Earl Martin Phalen leads BELL, and Phalen's mentor, Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, Jr. serves as Board Chair.

1996		BELL launches BELL Summer to impact children's academic and social achievements during the summer.

1997		BELL expands to New York City.

		BELL receives the President's Service Award from Bill Clinton.

1999		BELL expands to Washington, D.C.

		100% of BELL Scholars move up and out of "Failing" category for the first of five consecutive years.

2001		BELL partners with venture philanthropy firm New Profit, Inc.

		BELL partners with Monitor and Bridgespan Group to create its first strategic plan to expand its impact on children.

2003		BELL and the Boston Red Sox partner to create the Field of Dreams Gala and the Red Sox Scholars Program.

2004		BELL grows BELL After School in New York City from 300 scholars to more than 2,000 scholars, using philanthropic donations and sustainable government funding streams.

2005		BELL Summer scholars gain an average of 6 months reading, writing and math skills for fifth consecutive summer.

		BELL partners with Houghton Mifflin to access high-quality, skills-based curricula as well as innovative and effective assessment tools to increase children's academic gains.

		BELL begins educating children in Baltimore, Maryland, and educates over 8,000 children nationwide.

		BELL is recognized as one of the "top 25 organizations changing the world" by Fast Company and the Monitor Group.

2006		The Urban Institute and Mathematica Policy Research release the results of a two-year, independent evaluation of BELL Summer that finds scientific proof of BELL Summer significantly increasing children's reading skills. .

		BELL partners with Atlantic Philanthropies, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation as key partners in its next phase of growth and increased quality.to access high-quality, skills-based curricula as well as innovative and effective assessment tools to increase children's academic gains.

		BELL's board approves a five-year strategic plan for the organization which outlines BELL's growth to 15,000 scholars and five regions by 2011..

		BELL receives the Excellence in Summer Learning award from the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University

2007		President George Bush signs the STEP UP Act into law as part of the American COMPETES Act, designating $100M to fund high quality summer learning programs modeled after BELL and Teach Baltimore of the Center for Summer Learning..

		BELL partners with Baltimore City Public School System to serve 2,000 students for six weeks during the summer. Scholars gained and average of 4 months' skills in reading and math.

		BELL, the New England Patriots and Fidelity Investments host the first annual BELL Bowl flag football challenge at Gillette Stadium to benefit BELL Summer.

		BELL serves over 12, 650 scholars through its summer and after school programs in its fifteenth year..