Through the Chaos of E-Learning: A Summer Success Story
Midtown Educational Foundation Releases Preliminary Results From Its Remote Summer Program; Parents and Students Were Overwhelmingly Satisfied and feel Prepared for Virtual Learning in the Fall.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 20, 2020
CHICAGO - Midtown Educational Foundation (MEF) has completed preliminary reporting on its first-ever remote summer programs conducted by its Metro Achievement and Midtown Centers. The results demonstrate that the remote version of its educational model is both effective and improves on many of the shortcomings of spring e-learning programs as expressed by MEF parents. A full report is coming this fall, but in the meantime, this data shines a light on the effectiveness and growing need for after-school mentoring and tutoring programs, especially for low income families during this pandemic. Programs like those offered by MEF can help level the playing field in a virtual learning environment where disparities in income, technology, and parent support play such a big factor in success. MEF is reflecting on this summer’s achievements and lessons as it finalizes plans for continued virtual programming in the fall.
In May, MEF made the difficult decision to upend its 55-year-old model of providing individually focused education and mentoring to students at its centers, and instead, pivoted to the creation of an MEF at-home model. Students and parents communicated their sadness of being away from the care and resources at the centers. They also expressed frustration with e-learning programs rolled-out in the spring, which from their perspective lacked a lot of engagement, accountability, and seemed tone deaf to parent and technology limitations. Parents were hesitant to commit to more online learning into the summer. As a result, Midtown and Metro used feedback from MEF parents, tutors, and a network of professionals in the Chicago education industry, to create robust remote programs that combined live academic, fitness, and elective classes with at-home projects that limited strain on family life. Remote mentoring would persevere, and was practiced and refined during the spring, with a mix of online platforms and phone calls.
Midtown Center's student supply kit pick-up day on June 30th. Staff at both Midtown and Metro showed so much love and care by packing and handing out everything a student needed for the summer program, including laptop and tablet rentals.
To kick-off the summer program, which ran from July 6th-31st, program staff handed out fully stocked supply kits and loaned laptops and tablets to ensure that each child had everything they needed to participate in the program. Attendance was closely tracked so staff could follow up immediately if there was an unknown absence. However, the primary motivation for good attendance was the fun and engaging programs. Teachers launched each morning with lively roll calls, quiz shows, and mixed in workouts and creative electives to keep both the brain and body energized. High school students were treated to career speakers such as an Amazon Alexa Engineer, an Emmy Award-winning film producer, and the team surgeon for the Chicago Cubs. Both centers achieved close to 90% attendance, which is well above the roughly 60% e-learning engagement reported by CPS in the spring (see chart for breakdown).*
The high level of engagement extended to MEF’s Parent Programs as well. This summer parents were treated to guest speakers discussing ways to cope with stress, manage technology use, and how to find joy amidst times of suffering. These speaker events, alongside parent fitness and nutrition classes, were attended by an average of 75 parents per night.
In addition to the overall attendance success, Midtown and Metro’s students grew academically. They averaged a 20% or higher increase between their pre and post-program assessments which measured core-curriculum based standards as well as apprenticeship based proficiencies. Students surveyed contributed much of these results to the individual attention they received from their teachers and mentors. Teachers broke down classes into small break-out groups and held weekly office hours to provide additional help with student projects. Separate mentoring sessions were available to each child at least once per week, which provided both academic and social-emotional support. In post-program surveys, both students and parents gave high ratings to MEF’s summer program.
“I felt stimulated throughout the program so that I could continue with less struggle into the school year.”
“I think it prepared me for next year because the one-on-one sessions made me more confident.”
“Thank you for a great summer program. My son was sad to see it come to an end. The Midtown staff has always done a great job at character building and reaching out to the boys/young men in a way that helps them mature. Midtown has been a blessing to our family for the last four summers. This year we plan on enrolling my son in the virtual school year program. Thank you again.”
MEF will carry this success over to its remote fall programs, which start on September 28th. A greater focus will be placed on individual tutoring to help cater to each student’s unique needs and struggles regardless if they are learning from home or in-person. Fall registration opens on August 31st. Visit www.midtown-metro.org for more information on their programs and to support its mission to Chicago’s urban youth.
About Midtown Educational Foundation: Midtown Educational Foundation (www.midtown-metro.org), through its Metro Achievement Center for girls and Midtown Center for boys, has helped close the achievement gap for underserved students in Chicago since its founding in 1965. Their programming focus on academic excellence, virtue development, individual attention, and parental engagement has led to 100% high school graduation and college enrollment for its students for 21 consecutive years.
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Media Contact:
Vince Meno
Director of Community Outreach & Marketing
Phone: 773-520-7202
Email: vmeno@midtown-metro.org