YMCA READS! Fall 2012 Service Learning Project At Sulphur Springs Elementary School YMCA.

Poverty vs. Youth and Education “Educational Achievement Gap” (Canada, Tough) Sulphur Springs Elementary School One of the worst schools in the state (testimonial from Ms. Kipp, kindergarten teacher) GreatSchool rating: 2/10 School community rating: 3/5 Compare with Cahoon Elementary Magnet School (8/10, 5/5) Compare with Cleveland Elementary School (6/10, 4/5)

Geoffrey Canada’s Theories Conveyor Belt Contamination

Application in Sulphur Springs Conveyor Belt: Early Childhood-->Elementary School -- >Middle School-->High School Contamination: SSES FCAT grade has risen from an “F” two years in a row to a “B” during the school year and a “C” in and

The center of our concentric circles is the Y- Reads program.

YMCA Reads! History Need for educational intervention READS! program brought through the Florida Alliance of YMCA and the Department of Education Less of a transient issue Children develop a love for reading Gaines in academic data

How the Kids View the Program

Our Personal Experiences Our experiences as a volunteers has offered us an urban reality check in one of Tampa’s inner city neighborhoods. Serving the youth of Sulphur Springs was quite rewarding, otherwise allowing us to be part of another facet of life; opening our minds and reshaping our preconceived notions of poverty, class and urban stereotypes. We have all been involved with and subject to a program that works relentlessly to correct what years of academic neglect have done to our elementary schools.

Conclusion

Thank You! Thank you to Professor Jones, Saima, Stacy, and the rest of the YMCA team, the staff and teachers at Sulphur Springs Elementary School.

Thanks to all the kids who taught us just as much as we taught them! Future USF Bulls!