What Are CDF Freedom Schools?

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools program seeks to build strong, literate, and empowered children prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, nation, and world today. By providing summer and after-school reading enrichment for children who might otherwise not have access to books, CDF Freedom Schools play a much needed role in helping curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps. The CDF Freedom Schools program also gives children safe spaces and they are taught by college student mentors from the communities where they live and who look like them. It’s hard to be what you can’t see. The program provides an exciting integrated reading curriculum including carefully chosen developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant books. Children receive two meals and a snack every day in the summer program. Parents are engaged through weekly workshops and child “scholars” are taught nonviolent conflict resolution and critical thinking skills and are required to engage in community service and social action projects. They learn that they are not citizens in waiting but can make a difference right now.

What Are CDF Freedom Schools?

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools program seeks to build strong, literate, and empowered children prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, nation, and world today. By providing summer and after-school reading enrichment for children who might otherwise not have access to books, CDF Freedom Schools play a much needed role in helping curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps. The CDF Freedom Schools program also gives children safe spaces and they are taught by college student mentors from the communities where they live and who look like them. It’s hard to be what you can’t see. The program provides an exciting integrated reading curriculum including carefully chosen developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant books. Children receive two meals and a snack every day in the summer program. Parents are engaged through weekly workshops and child “scholars” are taught nonviolent conflict resolution and critical thinking skills and are required to engage in community service and social action projects. They learn that they are not citizens in waiting but can make a difference right now.

What is the purpose of CDF Freedom Schools?

Summer is a time of unmet opportunity for low-income children who experience summer learning loss (SLL) and the many risks associated with unsupervised, unengaged time. SLL is the largest factor in the achievement gap in school performance for low-income students, according to the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. Most children in poverty are disproportionately affected by SLL, with low-income students losing 2-3 months in reading achievement over the summer, while their middle-income peers make slight gains. These losses are cumulative, contributing to social immobility and widening the opportunity gap.

What is the purpose of CDF Freedom Schools?

Summer is a time of unmet opportunity for low-income children who experience summer learning loss (SLL) and the many risks associated with unsupervised, unengaged time. SLL is the largest factor in the achievement gap in school performance for low-income students, according to the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. Most children in poverty are disproportionately affected by SLL, with low-income students losing 2-3 months in reading achievement over the summer, while their middle-income peers make slight gains. These losses are cumulative, contributing to social immobility and widening the opportunity gap.

Birmingham’s First CDF Freedom School

In 2017, The Worship Center Christian Church was selected by the Children’s Defense Fund to join community organizations around the country and serve as a local sponsor for CDF Freedom Schools. In the summer of 2018, The Worship Center will host 50 scholars for a six-week, literacy-rich summer program. CDF Freedom Schools are unlike other summer programs because they give children three resources needed to develop their potential and inspire a love of reading and learning – literacy skills, character strengths and a community that believes in them.

2018 CDF Freedom School will take place
June 25th – August 3rd

Derby Campus
(Location is Full)

School Times:
8:00-3:00pm

Dates:
June 25-August 3

Mandatory 6 week commitment

NEW CDF Freedom School Site!

Wilkerson Middle School

School Times:
8:00-3:00pm

Dates:
June 18-July 27

We are now accepting applications for all MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (6-8th grade) that are enrolled in any Birmingham City School

Click Here To Download Registration Form
Click Here To Download Parental Consent Form

Birmingham’s First CDF Freedom School

In 2017, The Worship Center Christian Church was selected by the Children’s Defense Fund to join community organizations around the country and serve as a local sponsor for CDF Freedom Schools. In the summer of 2018, The Worship Center will host 50 scholars for a six-week, literacy-rich summer program. CDF Freedom Schools are unlike other summer programs because they give children three resources needed to develop their potential and inspire a love of reading and learning – literacy skills, character strengths and a community that believes in them.

2018 CDF Freedom School will take place
June 25th – August 3rd

Hear more about CDF Freedom School from Van Moody

What is Summer Learning Loss?

Hear more about CDF Freedom School from Van Moody

What is Summer Learning Loss?

Employment Opportunities

2018 Servant Leader Job Description
2018 Servant Leader Intern Application

For more information, please email freedomschool@theworshipcentercc.org