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FIELD BUILDING
CFY is working to shape public policy on the importance of expanding educational priorities to include learning in the home as a critical lever for improving academic achievement in school. Our goal is to build a vibrant Home Learning Environment field within the education sector so that Home Learning is fully integrated into the national blueprint of K-12 education.
As a nation, we have long recognized the importance of the Home Learning Environment for pre-school children. Yet once children enter school, our nation’s investment in children’s home environment dissipates. Equally important, the general understanding amongst educators and policy-makers of what works and what does not grows hazy. For example, the expression “parental involvement” becomes a catch-all phrase and is more often used to describe parent activities that have no impact on student achievement (e.g., bake sales and PTA participation) as it is used to describe parent activities that do have impact (the activities parents do for their children around learning at home).
CFY programs demonstrate the value of continuing to invest in children’s Home Learning Environment once they enter school. We seek to educate school personnel and policy makers on the enormous potential of this ongoing investment and act as a trusted resource for disseminating what works.
Constructing a Vibrant Home Learning Field
CFY seeks to construct a vibrant Home Learning that will have the following important elements:
CFY is positioned to lead the formation of a new Home Learning field. The organization has a 10-year track record of strengthening the Home Learning Environment and the school-home connection for children across the country, as well as the following:
As a nation, we have long recognized the importance of the Home Learning Environment for pre-school children. Yet once children enter school, our nation’s investment in children’s home environment dissipates. Equally important, the general understanding amongst educators and policy-makers of what works and what does not grows hazy. For example, the expression “parental involvement” becomes a catch-all phrase and is more often used to describe parent activities that have no impact on student achievement (e.g., bake sales and PTA participation) as it is used to describe parent activities that do have impact (the activities parents do for their children around learning at home).
CFY programs demonstrate the value of continuing to invest in children’s Home Learning Environment once they enter school. We seek to educate school personnel and policy makers on the enormous potential of this ongoing investment and act as a trusted resource for disseminating what works.
Constructing a Vibrant Home Learning Field
CFY seeks to construct a vibrant Home Learning that will have the following important elements:
- A diversified range of direct service programs including numerous delivery partners and innovative program models targeting learning in the home and improving the school-home connection.
- Academic research that focuses on the effects of the Home Learning Environment on student achievement and parental confidence, and a central repository of studies available to research partners nationwide.
- An effective public policy arm that will mobilize grassroots advocates and leverage partner organizations to gain the support of opinion leaders, policymakers, and elected officials.
- A multi-channel communications strategy that capitalizes on current events to create clear and consistent messaging around the Home Learning Environment for local and national media sources.
CFY is positioned to lead the formation of a new Home Learning field. The organization has a 10-year track record of strengthening the Home Learning Environment and the school-home connection for children across the country, as well as the following:
- A service model, incorporating training, educational resources, and technology, that has a proven positive impact on the lives of thousands of school children and their families.
- A nationwide infrastructure, with programs in five cities (New York City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area) and over 30 affiliates in more than 20 states plus the District of Columbia.
- A robust and growing set of relationships with researchers and institutions.
- A management team with key expertise in education, program development, low-income communities, technology, fundraising, communications, branding, and advocacy.
