Statistics show that each summer most students lose about two months of grade-level equivalency in math and language skills. For students who are already behind grade level during the school year, this slip puts them farther behind and it is essentially very hard to catch back up. Youth from underserved families are especially at risk and tend to reach kindergarten unprepared, and will continue to fall behind in school without proper interventions. Ultimately, this achievement and opportunity gap culminates in low high school graduation rates, limited job prospects, and a cycle of low-economic status.
The Y, a long time leader in youth development, is doing something to close, even reverse, this opportunity gap, by working to improve the educational readiness and outcomes for area youth, while helping them grow emotionally and physically.
In partnership with BellXcel and the Enterprise School District, the Shasta Family YMCA has once again implemented Power Scholars Academy (PSA). This summer program is designed to give area youth hands-on academic support focusing on language arts and math, using social and emotional learning, with exposure to enrichment electives, such as art, drama, music, health & fitness, and engineering & science. Students are served breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks, because no student can learn without essential needs, such as hunger, met. PSA is so successful that the majority of Scholars catch up to grade level and some even surpass grade level.*
The 2022 summer PSA program served students entering K through 7th grades. The program ran Monday - Friday, June 20 - July 19, from 7:45 am - 2 pm, with afternoon care available 2 pm - 6 pm.
Programs like Power Scholars Academy could not be implemented without the help of our sponsors and donors. We call this the Donor Difference. If you are interested in partnering with the Shasta Family YMCA to address the gaps in our community, contact Julie Schroeder, Donor Relations and Development Manager, at 530.246.9622 x126 or [email protected]
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*Shasta Family YMCA 2022 Power Scholars Program Results (scholars who scored below the 10th percentile rank on their program's pre-test are considered in the Urgent Intervention category):
- Of the 36% of scholars pre-tested below the 10th percentile in Literary: 1.5 average months gained
- Of the 28% of scholars pre-tested below the 10th percentile in Math: 3.0+ average months gained
