CHILDREN OF PROMISE
Since 1990, Chandler Education Foundation has given students the opportunity to continue their learning with extended year summer school program. Through the years, more than 9,000 students have been provided additional educational opportunities to maintain, improve and enrich academic skills. 

HISTORY 
For the past fifteen years the Chandler Unified School District, in partnership with the Chandler Education Foundation, the city and members of the community have provided our Children of Promise (at-risk students) the opportunity to continue their learning with extended year summer school programs. The concept was Eddie Basha’s and during the summer of 1990 it became a reality for students at Frye and San Marcos Elementary Schools. Each summer since that time a unique summer program of academic and recreational experiences have provided opportunities for children to maintain and improve their academic skills. With the advent of the district’s modified calendar, March and October intersession opportunities have also been extended to enhance skills learned throughout the academic year. 

WHAT DO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS DO? 
State aid and federal funding budgets are utilized to implement programs during the regular school year. In order to provide summer and intersession opportunities, additional funding is needed. Community Education summer school programs are funded through student generated tuition. However, many Chandler children live in homes with little or no income; a tuition-based program would be out of reach for these children. Your donations pay for teachers, staff, entrance fees and transportation costs for these extended year programs so that students can attend without paying tuition. 

PROGRAM RESULTS 
Research suggests that perhaps one of the most effective strategies for at-risk learners is the implementation of extended year programs. Chandler teachers concur that students attending these programs return to school ready to learn new skills and require less review than counterparts who do not attend. The advantages are especially significant, as these programs include students who, because of poor grades, limited English skills, or for other reasons are considered at-risk and encounter difficulties in school. Perhaps, even more significant for their future in school and in life, surveys show improvement in attitudes about school on the part of both students and parents. 

SUMMER 2005 CHILDREN OF PROMISE
In the summer of 2005, the five Chandler Unified School District elementary schools most heavily impacted by low income families were given an opportunity to continue the educational experience by summer programs funded in part or fully by the Chandler Education Foundation. Each program was academic-based with a thematic approach for appeal to their students. The selection of the subject area of focus: Mathematics, Language Arts, Writing, Reading, and Social Studies reflect the academic standards each school was striving to see student improvement for the 2005 and the 2006 school year. This investment supported 613 Chandler Unified School District students.

Frye Elementary, "A Passport Around the World" One hundred and thirty-one K-6 grade students spent a two week summer program studying social studies in cross grade level groupings, using grade-appropriate math, reading and writing venues to study cultures across the world. Students carried a passport that was stamped upon entering each cultural experience. In closing their educational journey, students attended a World Fair, where highlights of each experience were displayed. Some groups put on musical performances and cooking was a favorite-shared experience.

"Summer Safari" took place at Galveston Elementary. The Wild Safari theme was incorporated into math, reading, and writing instruction in grades K-5 three-week Monday-Thursday program. Highlights of the program were visits by the Phoenix Zoo, where students learned about animals and their habitats. Students then wrote reports about an animal. In computer lab, students researched and wrote about animals, and worked on math. Daily class time was focused on math problem-solving also. To build a sense of community students participated in TRIBES activities. Students were scored in the areas of communication and execution with the Northwest Regional Laboratory problem-solving rubric.

Hartford Elementary enjoyed "Hidden Treasures Through Books". Hartford approached a writing focus with the 132 first through sixth graders through a theme that appealed to all grade levels and reading levels. Students were placed into five groups with similar reading skills that allowed teachers to focus on specific genres of books. The culminating event, the Family Fair, showcased students in their strongest writing, which included a musical program, a puppet show, and many final projects to view.

Knox Elementary "Hit a Home Run" this year. The grand old summer time sport of baseball appealed to the 110 Knox summer school students who attended the two-week program. Kindergarten through fifth graders worked on grade level standards in both Language Arts and Math as their academic focus. Students were grouped in K-1st, 2nd-3rd, and 4th-5th grade groupings as they studied word problems, computation, and graphing, as well as grammar, phonics, and paragraphing. The mixture of music, physical education and computer classes balanced out the day for students.

San Marcos Elementary "It's a Jungle Out There" The two-week program at San Marcos Elementary benefited the one hundred and ten Kindergarten through Sixth graders who attended. Academic focus stressed Math (geometry, money, graphing, basic computation) integrated into writing, reading, and art classes, as well as time spent on math games in computer lab.

CONTRIBUTORS & SUPPORTERS 
Achen-Garden, Inc.
Avuenue/Taco Bell
APS
Basha's Rotary Golf Classic
Chandler Compadres
Chandler Horizon Rotary Club
Chandler Regional Hospital
City of Chandler
Cox Charities
Kerri Cox
Jean Dietz
Fisher Foundation
Edythe Fairbanks Whiteman Family Foundation
George Fraunces
Susan & W. Steven Martin
Dennis & Nancy Martine
John & Carol McNelis
Steena Murray
Daniel Newham
Mary Ann Oldham
Phoenix Suns Charities
Audrey Ryan
Norman and Glennys Saba
Salt River Project
William Schrader
James & Patricia Sheehan
Oren & Donna Wallace

A WORD OF THANKS
“I believe that the extended year programs offered to our Children of Promise represent one of Chandler community’s greatest attributes – a focus on and concern for the education and well being of our youth.” 
 - Susan Eissinger, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services 

“Your generous support enables us to offer many exciting experiences to our students. This program continues to be a high quality extended year experience for our students, and the support of the CEF is very important to maintain the excellence that we would like to present in our educational events. Thanks again for all you do for our Hartford students.” 
 - James D. Tongring, Principal, Hartford Elementary 

“The summer program is extremely important because it allows activities to happen that promote retention of information over the summer until school resumes. This impacts education.” 
 - Dr. Paul C. Ritz, Principal, Frye Elementary School 

“The summer school program is a wonderful extension of learning for the San Marcos children. We had excellent attendance because we combined hands on learning experiences with a special field trip experience. This program helps our children "stay in school" where they continue to practice and develop their English language, which is a big part of our skills development program. Thank you so very much to the Chandler Education Foundation for supporting the Children of Promise summer school program at San Marcos.” 
 - Christine Sargent, Principal, San Marcos Elementary School 

“Galveston Elementary School would like to thank the Chandler Education Foundation for their support through the Children of Promise program. Our summer school program extends learning in writing traits along with literacy support through the library and computer lab. Workshops were also offered to parents with a focus on supporting literacy in the home.” 
 - Gina Vukovich, Principal, Galveston Elementary School 

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