Brooklyn charter school combating learning loss with Summer Boost program

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Coney Island Prep, a charter school in Brooklyn, has joined the Summer Boost program for the first time this year, aiming to address learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-week literacy intensive program, set to conclude on Aug. 6, focuses on phonics instruction, reading, and writing skills for students in grades 1-4.

One of the students in the program is second grader Isabella. "I want to be a doctor," she shared, expressing her excitement about the Summer Boost program and how it has helped her improve her literacy skills, a vital step toward achieving her dream of working in the medical field. "I've been learning how to break down words, sound out a lot of words, and I have written so much fine doing that. Sometimes I get my whiteboards and we draw, we write the word on the whiteboards and we sound them out each sound."

Isabella said the program has also fostered a sense of community among the other students. "Last year, I made some friends and now we just like, we all like our partners."

Karen Johnson, the chief executive officer of Coney Island Prep, shared insights on the program's impact. "I've been able to come in and see them in their classrooms, just really devour books cover to cover. They have been so excited to engage in the learning opportunities that are happening."

The Summer Boost program, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and implemented in partnership with Springboard Collaborative, aims to combat summer learning loss, a widespread issue affecting students across the city. Johnson emphasized the program's importance in addressing pandemic-related learning challenges. "Coming off of the pandemic, I know it's been about three years, but that impact of learning loss is still felt across all of our classrooms across New York City."

A unique aspect of the program is its "Family Fridays," where parents join their children in learning activities. "It is just wonderful to be able to see our parents and our students practicing that literacy because then that also ensures that it happens here in school, but also happens on the way to school at home, at the park," Johnson said.

By participating in Summer Boost, Coney Island Prep aims to fulfill its mission of preparing students for future success, bringing those like Isabella one step closer to achieving their dreams.