


Servant Leader Interns are college students with the passion and commitment to be a role model in the life of a child. It also connects the needs of scholars and families to the resources of their communities. Our program boosts scholars’ motivation to read, and generates a more positive attitude towards learning science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. In partnership with Welcome Table Inc., the CDF Freedom Schools® program works hard to ensure each scholar is equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in life.

Your scholar could be one of the over 100,000 scholars who have had a CDF Freedom Schools® experience since 1995! In 2022, CDF Freedom Schools Austin will serve 60 scholars, in-person, and is expanding programming to two campuses, one located at Norman-Sims Elementary School (AISD), and one at Pecan Springs Elementary School (AISD).Īll CDF Freedom Schools ® Austin programming and materials are provided at no cost to our scholars and their families. In 2021, to meet the needs of our scholars and their families, we moved our programming back to in-person learning, offering a hybrid experience for 40 scholars. In Summer 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, for the first time in our program’s history, we are offered virtual learning, supplies, and meals to a group of 40 elementary school age scholars and met virtually with parents to support them and engaging professionals in the community to present or read to the students. In addition to the program elements described below, scholars receive two meals and a snack daily. Championing the cause to defeat summer learning loss and giving every child an opportunity to succeed is the foundation of Freedom Schools. Since 2014, our scholars have averaged a 10 month increase in reading level over the course of the six-week program.ĬDF Freedom Schools is much more than an out-of-school-time literacy program it teaches children the importance of using their voice in their community to become responsible, informed citizens.ĬDF Freedom Schools Austin serves children who most need and yet can least afford summer learning opportunities. has been fiscal sponsor of Freedom Schools in Austin, the only program in Central Texas, since 2014. Our CDF Freedom Schools® Austin program extends the powerful summer learning experience, with year-round family engagement, family centered events, books, educational and cultural materials, community partnerships, and family support. Culturally responsive teaching and learningįreedom Schools’ impact extends to transform college student interns (better known as Servant Leader Interns, or SLIs) into advocates for children and inspire them to be future leaders, and to deepen the community’s investment in children.Ĭhildren’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® programs are six-week summer literacy programs led by college student interns to scholars ages 6-11 from working poor families.Character strengths needed to make good decisions.CDF Freedom School® Austin gives children fundamental resources needed to develop their potential:
