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EAST TENNESSEE FREEDOM SCHOOLS

EAST TENNESSEE FREEDOM SCHOOLS

Inspiring Impactful Change

The Freedom Schools Story

The Children’s Defense Fund’s (CDF) Freedom Schools® program is a free six-week long summer enrichment program with 3 hours of reading per day. 

The program helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, cultivates positive attitudes toward learning, and reduces summer learning loss—one of the major challenges affecting poor and working-class children. With the help of a researched-based curriculum that is based on culturally responsive books that reflect their own images and caring and supportive college students that serve as teachers, Freedom Schools successfully address summer reading loss and a related decrease in students’ motivation to read.

 

In addition to offering high-quality academic enrichment, CDF Freedom Schools supports children and families in the areas of parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, and health -- physical, mental, and nutritional. With the support of caring adults and communities we will aid our children’s successful journey into adulthood.

VISION

A more just world.

MISSION

We leverage literacy with a diverse community of children to:

  • reduce summer learning loss

  • increase their love of learning, and 

  • develop thoughtful and engaged citizens...one neighborhood at a time.

VALUES

Love

Kindness

Growth

Responsibility

Hear the Voices of Freedom Schools

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF 
EAST TENNESSEE FREEDOM SCHOOLS

Before She Was Harriet
Harvesting Hope
Sonia Sotomayor
Kids with Courage
March - Book One
Freedom Summer
Carter Reads the Newspaper
What if Everybody Did That_
Teen Guide to Global Action
The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes
ETFS - Books Cluster
Twenty-Two Cents
Sit-In
Miss Tizzy
Suki_s Kimono
Uncle Jed_s Barbershop
Each Kindness
Be the Change
The Other Side
The Remember Balloons
Have You Filled a Bucket Today_
A Shelter in Our Car
Gandhi
The Can Man
Calling the Water Drum
Smoky Night
Tomas and the Library Lady
As Good As Anybody
Let the Children March
Ruth and the Green Book
Desmond and the Very Mean Word
Eleanor
Just Because I Am
The Proudest Blue
Mae Among the Stars
One Hen
Freedom On The Menu
Whoever You Are
The Day Gogo Went to Vote
Granddaddy_s Turn
Home To Medicine Mountain

OUR PROGRAMS

Making a Difference

HARAMBEE!

"Something Inside So Strong"

Harambee! is a Swahili word that means “all pull together.” To ensure that every child has a fair start, the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools starts the day with informal sharing when children, staff, parents, and members of the community come together to celebrate themselves and others.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

  • STEM

  • Montessori Math

  • Girl Scouts

  • Boy Talk

  • Fitness

  • Art

  • Drumming

  • Phonics

  • Financial Literacy

  • Civic/American HIstory

Happy School Kid

PARENTS' CORNER

Parents and other family members are important partners in their children’s education and must be offered the support and skills they need to help their children succeed.

Scholar with his favorite book

Read Aloud With Adults
 

Listen as Freedom Schools staff Read Aloud some of our favorite books.

You can use these to support the strengthening of comprehension skills.

And they're fun too!

Parent reading with children

Assisted Read Alouds

 

Scholars can listen, read along, or turn the volume down and read the book themselves! It can be helpful to listen and read along before reading on their own.

Father relaxing reading with son

Reading Tips for Parents
 

Find a variety of ways to help your  scholar be an even better reader!

7-Year Avg. Assessment Data

96%

of parents say their child 

  • is a better reader.

  • has more confidence. 

  • believes they can make a difference.

  • has learned ways to resolve conflict

87%

of children, improved or maintained their 
instructional reading level.

96%

of parents say they

  • better understand how to help their child be successful.

  • will be more engaged in child's school work.
     

WE THANK OUR SUPPORTERS!

The University of Tennessee Logo
East Tennessee Foundation Logo
Project Grad of Knoxille Logo
The Chairmen's Club Logo
Truist Bank Logo
The Epsicopal Church in East Tennessee Logo
Harmony Logo
William & Mary Davis Foundation Logo
East Tennessee Children's Hospital Logo
Drums Up, Guns Down Logo
K.I.C.M.A. Logo
Knox County Schoools Logo
Blount County Schools logo
Knox County Logo

CONTACT US

Main Office:

2184 N. Ridge Drive Jefferson City, TN 37760

Denise J. Dean

Executive Director 

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