Our Impact
Thanks to the dedicated volunteers, partners, and staff, Children Rising gives children a fairer chance to succeed in school … and in life.
In Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), the need and urgency for interventional reading and math tutoring is greater than ever. In 2023-2024, Children Rising took stock of our collaborative partnerships. In doing so, we were critically reminded that in Oakland’s schools, nonprofit collaboration isn’t just a good thing to consider. It’s essential for organizations focused on improving elementary school children’s literacy and math skills to do so collaboratively.
Imagine the power of leveraging each other’s experience, knowledge, and best practices—all centered on improving and extending our programs for the students we serve—and doing so more cost-effectively.
We implemented program enhancements to address the children’s unprecedented needs:
1. Succeeding by Reading continues to align its Science of Reading-centered curriculum and tools with SIPPS, a core literacy teaching resource now used in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) elementary schools.
2. Path2Math incorporated the iReady online learning platform into its curriculum, which has become an OUSD standard for math instruction and skills assessment. The transition will improve the tutor’s ability to focus on critical foundational skills in support of classroom learning.
3. FamilyBridge has adopted the TalkingPoints family engagement platform to more effectively communicate with parents and caregivers about their child’s progress in Succeeding by Reading and Path2Math. It also encourages in-home learning activities and ongoing support.
By continuing to align our efforts with both educators and partners, we will ensure that children and schools reap the benefit of shared best practices and program synergies.
2023 – 2024 Program Highlights Include:
The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact literacy gains for elementary school children in Oakland. Last year, 50% of the children who received 15 or more tutoring sessions advanced two or more grade levels in reading. That number is lower than pre-COVID results due to the larger number of second-grade children struggling at the lowest level (Orange TK). Far more care and instruction are required to build the foundational skills necessary to move them out of the Orange level. However, once they have these skills, their progress significantly accelerates as they strive to reach grade-level reading abilities.
When a child tries to learn second-grade math concepts without foundational skills like basic number sense, addition, and subtraction, it can be extremely discouraging. Many children lose hope and give up. Path2Math tutors come alongside to help kids learn math and develop confidence. Twice weekly one-on-one tutoring focuses on the basic skills children need to learn more advanced math concepts. When they feel the exhilaration of success, they strive to learn more, and hope builds. When children feel confident, learning becomes more joyful.
FamilyBridge partners with and supports parents and caregivers of children enrolled in Path2Math and Succeeding by Reading. A collaborative team of program staff, volunteers, parents, and teachers work together to tutor, coach, and inspire second and third-grade students who are performing substantially below grade level in math and reading. This circle of care nurtures and celebrates the child’s academic progress in school and is a catalyst for learning at home. Putting the child in the center can change the trajectory of the lives of eager young children.
