"Close your eyes and think about the words summer school. What comes to mind? If you picture a room full of children clapping, chanting, laughing and learning to fall in love with books and reading, you could be imagining the experience thousands of children across the country are having as they participate in CDFs Freedom Schools program."

What are CDF Freedom Schools?

CDF Freedom Schools provide summer and after-school enrichment in a nurturing environment that helps children gain confidence and enthusiasm for reading and learning, using a model curriculum integrating five core principles:

The CDF Freedom Schools program works hard to ensure each child is equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in life. The program boosts student motivation to read, and generates a more positive attitude towards learning, while connecting the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.

Houston is home to the very first CDF Freedom Schools site in Texas and since 1999 has continued to provide positive out-of-school learning experiences for hundreds of youth each summer.  The following community groups and churches have stepped forward to help bring the wonderful experience to children in new communities across Texas, including Houston, Beaumont, Galveston, Dallas and San Antonio.

After a very successful first summer, the  Harris County Juvenile Probation Department expanded its involvement with the CDF Freedom Schools program to reach incarcerated youth at a second facility.   After just six weeks, the program's impact was astonishing with a dramatic decrease in the number of behavioral issues reported and more youngsters enthusiastic about being productive and making a positive change for themselves.

Why are CDF Freedom Schools so Important?

Education is the single most effective prevention against poverty and poor economic outcomes. CDF Freedom Schools have been proven to stem summer learning loss and to help bridge the education achievement gap.

Research shows that poor and disadvantaged children are 3.5 times more likely to drop out of school than their more advantaged peers, and 70% of Texas 4th graders can't read at grade level.  CDF Freedom Schools engages children as young as 5 in culturally relevant and age-appropriate reading activities, and makes learning meaningful and a whole lot of fun to capture the attention of even the littlest Texans!

Witness Youth in Action, Excited About Learning!

The program is truly unique and transformative and has the power to lift up entire communities.  Ask any one of our participating families and they will tell you just what a difference the program has made in their lives.  Site visits for Freedom Schools will resume in Summer 2012 with new sites coming on board very soon.

 Your child could join more than 90,000 children who have had a CDF Freedom Schools experience since 1995.

To learn more, contact CDF-Texas Youth Leadership Development Director Brandi Brown at bbrown@childrensdefense.org