Summit 54 is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving Colorado's economy and society through effective, efficient and accountable investments in education.
Summit54 Finds Innovative Solutions in Outdoor Tutoring
Navigating COVID-19 has been a global challenge, one that has impacted schools, students, and teachers especially hard. The research and data informing Summit54's along with recent reports show that students from low-income and typically underserved communities will experience a greater negative impact from school closures and virtual learning.
After the cancellation of Summit54's regularly scheduled summer program, Summer Advantage, Summit54 pivoted to develop a new outdoor tutoring model — providing students with opportunities to continue their academic learning in small groups allowing teachers and teaching assistants more one on one time with students. Additionally, the tutoring programs included mind exercises, physical exercises, healthy meals, and the opportunity for students to socialize with peers all in a socially distanced setting in adherence to State and CDC health guidelines.
The first session of the program, Summer Success, ran from June to August and the Fall Tutoring Program took place from August to mid-October. Collectively, Summit54 enrolled nearly 500 Kindergarten through Fourth graders in Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. All staff and students remained COVID-19 free and the program has been met with praise by teachers, parents, and students. Read more about both programs here.
The Summer Advantage program Summer Advantage will resume in 2021
Summer Advantage harnesses the power of summer learning to help children raise their achievement, improve their self-esteem, and return to school better prepared to succeed academically.
In the Summer of 2019
585 scholars in grades K-4 attended our program.
84% of scholars
identified Hispanic, 14% Caucasian, 1% African American and 1% Other.
77% of Scholars
who applied to attend Summer Advantage qualified for free or reduced-price meals.
Research shows
that children living in low-income communities who do not have access to high quality summer learning programs historically lose three months of academic skills every summer.
We’re thankful for the overwhelming support
Platinum Level Donors
Wend Foundation
United Way
Fullerton Family
Roaring Fork Schools
Dornick
SIF
Melvyn & Bren Simon Charitable Foundation
Melvyn & Bren Simon Charitable Foundation
Success Stories
Summer Advantage offers
invaluable summer learning and enrichment opportunities for students in the Roaring Fork Valley, with special consideration for at-risk students who otherwise would have little access to summer programs.
In addition to the academic and life-enrichment offerings, Summer Advantage provides two nutritious daily meals, daily physical activity, and a low student to teacher ratio ensures students have the attention of caring adults trained as a mentors.
Summer Advantage also provides an access point for weekend food bags, medical and dental care, and other important family services.
Another ancillary benefit of Summer Advantage is that it provides summer employment opportunities for teachers in the Valley who need year-round employment in order to be able to afford to live and teach in Roaring Fork schools.