History
Community is at the heart of literacy.
Community activists launched Summer Scholars in response to Northeast Denver's nationally publicized 1993 "Summer of Violence". Recognizing the link between youth violence and academic failure, program founder Cyndi Kahn asked a local teacher to think of options, short of repeating a grade, that might boost a failing student's reading skills at Hallet Elementary School. The teacher's request for summer reading intervention prompted the birth of Summer Scholars, which began at one school in the summer of 1993 with twenty participating students.
Cyndi was joined by Cathy Manchester from the Education Committee of the Greater Park Hill Community (GPHC) organization and Dr. Jessica Pearson, a professional evaluator, and Summer Scholars was officially launched in the summer of 1994 with 511 students. Summer Scholars operated as a program of GPHC and Denver Public Schools until it incorporated as a nonprofit 501c3 organization in 1995. Summer Scholars operated as a volunteer effort until 1997 when the first full time staff person was hired.
Since 1994, Summer Scholars has grown and expanded to incorporate three major program areas. The Summer Literacy and Recreation program remains true to the founders' vision and includes intensive reading intervention and high-quality recreation. Eager for a more positive impact with kids, Summer Scholars expanded to include comprehensive after school (Scholars After School) and Family Literacy services in 2003. Scholars After School effectively doubled the amount of tutoring hours available to students. The Family Literacy Program, including adult education and parent and child time together, successfully engages parents in a manner proven to enhance student achievement.
Summer Scholars is recognized as a national leader in the extended learning field and was honored with the 2005 Excellence in Summer Learning Award from the Center of Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. In addition, Summer Scholars recently won the 2010 Celebrate Literacy Award by the Colorado Council (CCIRA) of the International Reading Association. Well over 20,000 young people have participated in Summer Scholars programs over the past 15 years.
