Freedom School 2023

The Freedom School – a summer and after school enrichment program for 50 children ages 5-13 – is offered in partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund, a national children’s advocacy organization (http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs/freedomschools/).

With an emphasis on the 5 key elements of the Freedom School model – high quality academic enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement; intergenerational servant leadership; and nutrition, health and mental health – the 2023 Freedom School will offer Paterson children an outstanding summer program. Through the Freedom School, children and young people will be empowered to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, with hope, education and action. The program will offer literacy instruction and cultural enrichment designed to fill in the gaps where quality academic and enrichment programs are limited, too expensive, or non-existent. The Freedom School program enhances children’s motivation to read and makes them feel good about learning. At the same time, the program connects families to the right resources in their communities. Freedom School students engage in a research-based, multicultural Integrated Reading Curriculum that supports them and their families. Students also receive two nutritious meals and a snack daily, as well as a book each week to build their home libraries. The Freedom School program is implemented through an intergenerational leadership model, which is why the program is staffed primarily by college students and recent college graduates – offering a 10:1 child to adult ratio. As a result, many children and young people make significant gains in reading achievement and don’t experience any summer learning loss.