Beyond the Headlines

ABC7's Emmy award-winning public affairs show, "Beyond the Headlines," provides in-depth coverage of the topics and issues facing the people of the Bay Area. Throughout the year, "Beyond the Headlines" airs half-hour specials on issues, ranging from Bay Area housing to same-sex marriage.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES
June 12, 2011
Summer Learning Programs
Hosted by ABC7's Cheryl Jennings

Today, we look at how summer time could be dangerous to the physical and academic health of our low-income youth. They lack the fundamental resources and traditional opportunities most families associate with this time of year.

According to the Partnership for Children and Youth,

• Only 27% of California children participate in Summer learning programs.
• 48% of parents who make less than $35,000 a year did not enroll their child in any Summer program.
• Latino and African American parents are more likely to say there are no high-quality programs in their neighborhood, compared with Asian and white parents.

Oakland Unified School District distributes a summer learning guide, available at local elementary schools, middle school resource centers, high schools and libraries. Here is more information: http://publicportal.ousd.k12.ca.us/19941031514824990/site/default.asp

Mo' MAGIC offers free Summer Learning activities with registration. All ages are welcome! Below are a couple upcoming events.

Summer Learning  Reading Kick-off
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
12:00 p.m.
Yoshi's on 1330 Fillmore Street (at Eddy Street)
San Francisco's Western Addition.

Summer Learning Day  Celebrate the importance of Summer programming
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Civic Center Plaza (Polk & Grove Streets), San Francisco
Features: Science, Arts & Crafts, Soccer, BookMobile, Games 2 U

Find more events at http://momagic.org/events-activities. All events are free with registration.

Additional tips on Summer learning resources for parents and children:

Free pograms -

• Library reading programs
• City Parks and Recreation programs
• Local Boys & Girls Clubs and similar clubs

Do-It-Yourself Parent Resources -

• Workbooks you can get at the bookstore aligned to your child's age
• Worksheets you can download online
• Read at home to your children every day
• Ask your child's teacher for ideas about activities to do over the Summer to reinforce math, reading, etc. skills

Studio Guests

Katie Brackenridge
Director of Out-of-School Time Initiatives, Partnership for Children and Youth
Producer, SF Ethnic Dance Festival
http://partnerforchildren.org/

Jane O'Brien
Coordinator, Summer Learning Programs
Complementary Learning Department, Oakland Unified School District
http://ousd.k12.ca.us/ousd/site/default.asp

Sheryl Davis
Director, Mo' MAGIC
http://momagic.org/

Tina Collins, Aaliyah Williams, Starr Williams
Parent and Participants, Mo' MAGIC
http://momagic.org/
Or call (415) 563-5207

Additional Information

2-1-1 provides free and confidential information and referral. Dial 2-1-1 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more.

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