What happens after the school bell rings?
YMCA Beyond the Bell™ is an after-school and summer academic achievement program that focuses on closing the academic achievement gap experienced by children from low income areas, compared to their middle-class peers.
YMCA Beyond the Bell™ combines recreation, academic assistance, nutritional snacks, and socialization activities aimed at building confidence, developing social skills, promoting physical activity and enhancing learning.
Our Four Key Program Goals
- Realizing academic achievement
- Improving health and wellness
- Exploring culture and creativity
- Developing social skills
Closing the Achievement Gap
Children from low-income backgrounds are faced with an academic disadvantage compared to their middle-class counterparts before even starting school. Reading at grade level by Grade 3 is a crucial milestone that predicts future school success. Three quarters of children from low-income neighbourhoods fail to meet this milestone.
YMCA Beyond the Bell™ has been helping to break the cycle of poverty by closing the achievement gap. Children participate at no cost to their families. YMCA Beyond the Bell™ is supported by our generous donors and funders who believe that financial circumstances should not be a barrier to the academic success of children.
Impact on Children's Learning
We regularly measure the success the YMCA Beyond the Bell achieves in realizing programs and closing the achievement gap. Our most recent YMCA Beyond the Bell Report Card revealed many meaningful achievements by children who had completed the program.
72
%
performed at or above their grade level in math
91
%
said program leaders helped them solve problems
92
%
of parents said their child was motivated to learn
