Kay Fennelly Summer Literacy Institute - 2020 Targeted Learning

Dates: August - November, 2020

Project: The New Orleans Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, managed by the United Way of Southeast Louisiana (United Way), is divided into three strategic areas: school readiness, attendance, and summer learning. In the summer learning area, the Kay Fennelly Summer Literacy Institute “aims to infuse easy-to-implement literacy practices within existing summer programs for children ages 4-8 and build a shared understanding of the significance of incorporating literacy components among program directors and staff.”

In August, 2020, Fennelly Institute and KID smART engaged Flux to undertake a targeted learning project using qualitative interviews. The project synthesized answers to the following Learning Questions:

(a) Fennelly Institute’s Program Design:

How well does the current program design (including adaptations like the refocus on building staff capacity in 2019 and redesign for the virtual environment in 2020) fit different partners’ needs and circumstances?
Which components/resources are most important to producing grade-level literacy outcomes for kids?

(b) Effects of participation on partner program design:

How has participation in the Fennelly institute changed camp staff and director’s views on including literacy as part of their program design?
To what degree have any changed perceptions concretely influenced camp program design?

How do camp directors conceive of ‘success’ in grade level literacy readiness for their kids?
To what degree do camp directors and staff perceive the Fennelly institute drawing them closer to achieving this vision?

Website: www.nolagradelevelreading.org