BELL: BUILDING EDUCATED LEADERS FOR LIFE
BELL exists to transform the academic achievements, self-confidence, and life trajectories of children living in under-resourced, urban communities.
Because we believe in the tremendous potential of all children to excel, we recognize them as scholars.
For us, it’s all about ensuring children have the time they need fulfill that potential in school and in life. Research showsthat a lack of learning opportunities outside of school – and in particular, a lack of summer learning opportunities – causes up to 2/3 of the academic achievement gap between children from low-income communities and their higher-income peers. We aim to change that by helping schools and communities find innovative ways to expand learning time beyond the traditional school day and school year. By bringing the classroom into the community, and the community into the classroom, we aim to redefine how, where, and when learning occurs.
Our two main program models, BELL Summer and BELL After School, are based on strong partnerships with schools and deliver small-group academic instruction, mentorship, a wide range of enrichment activities, and community engagement. In BELL programs, scholars experience success, gain self-confidence, and become more prepared to succeed in the classroom. Our models also help parents become more engaged in their child’s education. Scholar success and parent engagement leads to improved school attendance, higher grades and test scores, and increased graduation rates.
Our programs serve scholars in grades K-8 throughout the United States.
We are a national organization, born in Boston. We have been perfecting our approach to expanding learning time since 1992.