Press Release     

7/13/06

BELL celebrates National Summer Learning Day with

Senator Barack Obama, Center for Summer Learning

Event on Capitol Hill highlights importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities for children.

WASHINGTON, DC:   BELL joined Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), the Center for Summer Learning, and other providers of educational summer programs at a briefing held Thursday, July 13.  Along with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Obama sponsored a bill known as the STEP UP Act, which is currently under committee review.  The Act, developed in partnership with BELL, seeks to establish public funding for educational summer programs to increase the academic and social achievements of thousands of American children.

At the briefing, BELL's Chief Program Officer Tiffany Cooper participated in a panel of national summer learning experts as Senator Obama introduced the STEP UP Act to members of Congress and their staff.  Cooper provided testimony regarding BELL Summer's program model and impact.  The program provides children with academic instruction and social enrichment for eight hours per day, five days per week, for six weeks.  In BELL Summer, children consistently gain at least five months' grade-equivalent skills.  In contrast, children living in urban areas tend to lose three months' skills during the summer vacation.  Children participating in BELL Summer return to school in the fall at least eight months ahead of their peers.

According to Ron Fairchild, Executive Director of the Center for Summer Learning, the briefing "underscores the powerful way we can work together with outstanding programs across the country to educate policy makers about the value of summer learning programs."  

“Summer is an incredible opportunity to help children who are under-performing in school achieve grade-level proficiency, develop as young leaders, and enter school ready to excel in the fall,” said Earl Martin Phalen, CEO of BELL.  “The support of Senators Obama and Mikulski demonstrates their commitment to children and education.  The STEP UP Act is a tremendous opportunity to deepen and expand our impact on children's lives and help them achieve high academic standards.”

BELL is educating 1,300 children in its BELL Summer program in 2006.  It is launching its first BELL Summer program site in Baltimore this year, educating 100 children at the Dickey Hill Elementary/Middle School.  For more information, please contact Lester Strong, at lstrong@bellnational.org.  Learn more about BELL at www.bellnational.org.