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BELL Announces Expansion to Detroit with New Summer Program with National Heritage Academies
BOSTON — May 27, 2008 — In partnership with National Heritage Academies (NHA), BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) today announced its expansion into Detroit, beginning in July with the BELL Summer program. BELL currently serves more than 10,000 students in summer and afterschool programs in Baltimore, Boston and New York City. The Detroit program will serve more than 750 students from six different NHA schools: Detroit Enterprise Academy, Detroit Metro Charter Academy, Detroit Premier Academy, Flagship Charter Academy, Hamtramck Academy and Warrendale Charter Academy.
BELL was founded in 1992 by a group of Black and Latino Harvard Law students. Its K–6 students, which BELL calls “scholars,” receive tutoring in reading, writing and math, as well as enrichment activities to help scholars develop higher self-esteem. BELL’s summer school program helps scholars continue to progress academically and personally during the summer months, rather than backslide in their educational progress as many students do in the summer months. In addition, as a Supplemental Educational Service (SES) provider, BELL provides afterschool tutoring to eligible students under Federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Through private and public funding, BELL’s programs offer more extensive, more robust and more effective tutoring and enrichment services than any other provider.
“On average, students will lose the equivalent of three months of education during the summer months,” said Earl Martin Phalen, BELL Co-founder and CEO. “The BELL Summer program helps our young scholars to gain, on average, four to six months worth of education during a six week period. The results are amazing and have a profound impact scholars’ future academic success.”
The BELL Summer program has received national acclaim and was recognized by Senator Barack Obama in the STEP-UP Act of 2005. The legislation cites BELL Summer as a program proven to remedy, reinforce and accelerate learning while helping to close the achievement gap in education.
“BELL shares our commitment to see all students succeed,” stated Jeff Clark, president and CEO, National Heritage Academies. “Summer is a time that requires particular attention to ensure that student learning continues to grow. BELL has developed one of the best summer learning programs in the county. We are pleased to partner with them to offer BELL Summer to our students in Detroit and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on students.”
BELL Summer, which runs for six weeks beginning July 7, will provide literacy and math lessons (linked to state and national standards), as well as enrichment courses Monday through Thursday. Each Friday, scholars will participate in experiential learning in the form of guest speakers, field trips and community services projects. BELL conducts ongoing assessment of student progress, and reviews the data with the school principal.
BELL’s
Detroit program will be led by new Regional Director, Dawn Smith,
while the individual schools will be staffed primarily by existing
NHA teachers to help foster academic continuity. With more than
fifteen years of experience in the Detroit non-profit community,
Smith brings depth of experience in managing afterschool programs
for at-risk youth in urban communities. A certified counselor and
youth development trainer, she has managed afterschool programs in
Detroit serving more than 30 sites. “As a native of Detroit, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges we face in our schools and in our communities,” said Smith. “I have dedicated my career to helping affect positive changes in our community to help young people succeed. I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to lead BELL’s Detroit program as we strive to help children reach their tremendous potential.”
About BELL
CONTACT: Collin Earnst 617-933-9011 |