Super Stars Literacy Gives Every Child the Foundation for Lifelong Learning and Achievement
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A student entering kindergarten without basic literacy skills (as is the case with most low-income students) is destined begin a cycle of academic failure, leaving them at a disadvantage for their whole life – unless they receive effective early intervention
Super Stars Literacy was created in 2002 by the Junior League of Oakland -East Bay, Inc. The program began by serving 60 students at a single Oakland, CA school, and formed its own non-profit in 2008. Today SSL serves 420 students at nine Oakland and Hayward (East San Francisco Bay Area) elementary schools and is expanding to reach hundreds more children.
The SSL literacy intervention program operates in communities with very high dropout (40%) and crime rates. Our students’ prospects are extremely bleak. They test at the level of a 2 or 3 year old when they enter the program in kindergarten, and many have behavior issues. 99% of our students are of minority background, 83% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, and 55% are English Language Learners. Their parents’ language barriers or lack of education prevents them from assisting their children with their schoolwork.
By giving students intervention which develops a strong literacy foundation by 3rd grade, instilling the socio-emotional skills needed to participate in school, providing a safe and enriching after-school environment, and engaging parents in their children’s academic growth, Super Stars Literacy can change these students’ trajectory. The SSL daily after-school program consists of individual and group instruction, and independent learning activities, along with additional school-day intervention and coordination with teachers, all designed to develop foundational literacy and social skills, as well as involve parents in events such as Family Reading Nights, parent education events, and family field trips.
When Ana started the SSL program, she couldn’t recognize letters, didn’t understand letter sounds, and didn’t know how to work in a classroom. Since her school and family can’t provide the assistance she needs, without SSL Ana would have continued to struggle with reading and social skills, becoming disengaged and continuing on the path to becoming a high school dropout.
However, because of SSL, Ana’s future will be drastically different. Ana’s SSL instructor, Erica Breuer, and her school-day teacher worked together to make sure that she mastered the literacy basics and caught up to 1st grade standards. Erica said, “At one of our mid-year one-on one-sessions, Ana began reading a simple book to me. From then on, her confidence and skill level skyrocketed. By the end of the year, she was participating fully and was almost reading at her grade level. It was truly amazing watching the transformation from the beginning of the year.” Erica describes Ana’s success as “an excellent example of what happens when a student’s family, teachers, and extracurricular instruction come together for their benefit.”
Former SSL instructor Karen Schreiner explains our impact: “Super Stars Literacy is not just about promoting early literacy; it is about building a community of engaged learners and equipping them with the skills they need in order to succeed academically and in life.’
More About This Charity
Region
West
Category
Educational Advancement
Name
Super Stars Literacy
Mission
Super Stars Literacy gives every child the foundation for lifelong learning and achievement.
Impact
- This Achievement raised $880,792
- This Achievement helped 420 people
- This Charity helped 500 people in the past year
- 91% of our 420 students met our goal of improving their literacy skills by the target amount
Works In
United States
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