As I have been studying the Harlem Children’s Zone the past few weeks I have come across some very insightful information.
- HCZ has an asthma initiative to improve asthma conditions in children living in the Harlem area. I found it interesting that they conducted research on how many children missed school and what was the reason for missing school.Through this research HCZ found that 29.7% of children had missed school due to asthma in the previous 14 days. Forty-two months later, only 6.8% had missed school due to asthma in the previous 14 days. I found this research very surprising at the drop that occurred in children missing school due to asthma related sickness after the program was implemented. I do question whether the same weather patterns were occurring when the post-assessment was conducted. I know quite a few children who only struggle with asthma related problems in certain weather patterns. I would be interested to see what the weather patterns were at each assessment.
- HCZ adds to my knowledge of how economists, neuroscientists, and politicians support the early childhood field. They have gained support with economists politicians through programs to help end poverty within the Harlem area. Each week they provide a program called single stop to provide free services concerning securing public benefits, access to legal guidance, financial advice, debt relief counseling and even advice on domestic crisis resolution. HCZ acknowledges that in order for children to be successful, their families have to be successful . And for families to be successful, their community must be successful. Because of this HCZ works to strengthen families to educate them on the positive impact they can have on their child’s development.
Last time I explored the website I shared the information I found on the Baby College and the Harlem Gems Pre-k / kindergarten program. One of our classmates brought up a VERY GOOD question concerning how students above early childhood were doing and if they were receiving the support to stay on track. Through exploring the website more I found the answer to this question. Last time I shared the statistic that – . Through more research I found a very encouraging statistic that in 2009, the third-graders from both schools were 100 percent on or above grade level in the statewide math program. At Promise Academy 1 the third-graders were 94 percent on or above grade level in English Language Arts, while the third-graders at Promise Academy II were at 86 percent. I also found that in 2009, 87.3 percent of the school’s eighth-graders attending a HCZ middle school were on or above grade level in math on the New York Statewide exam. It is very encouraging to know that these children are staying on track throughout their academic career.