2012 Annual Report

annual report2012

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BELL was created 20 years ago as a community-based effort to help

children succeed by expanding learning time. Students at Harvard Law

School joined forces with educators at the Harvard Graduate School of

Education and a group of concerned parents to design an educational

after school experience at a nearby public school. Since then, more than 100,000 students have become BELL scholars.

We have engaged scholars in more than 20 million hours of academic

instruction, enrichment activities, field trips, and community service.

And we have generated some of the strongest evidence available that

expanded learning time – particularly time in the summer – increases

student success and narrows the opportunity and achievement gaps.

The education community has also evolved over the past 20 years.

Through our efforts and the work of many others in schools and

communities across the country, expanded learning has gained

prominence as an important part of school turnaround efforts.

A rich set of research is compelling more schools and districts to

adopt summer learning strategies and to partner with community

organizations to serve scholars and families.We are proud to be a part of what truly has become a movement.

And we are grateful to all who share our mission. To all of the families,

teachers, principals, donors, partners, and friends: thank you for

helping us serve scholars with excellence.

Laurene Sperling Tiffany Gueye, Ph.D.

Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer

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impact

15,436Scholars Served in 2012

86%Average Daily Attendance

98School Partners

8States

11Cities

BELL expands learning time for scholars in grades K-8 who attend under-resourced public schools in urban communities. BELL scholars increase their time on task in order to eliminate summer learning loss, catch up to their peers, and narrow the opportunity and achievement gaps.

+5%Percentile Rank Increase in Literacy & Math

91%Increase in Parent Engagement

After School Outcomes

+9%

88%Increase in Self-Confidence

Summer Learning Outcomes

Percentile Rank Increase in Literacy & Math

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BELL Summer helped my daughter because the smaller groups are better for her. BELL gave her an advantage going into high school. Before, in math and science in particular, she had trouble focusing in school, and her principal recommended she participate. In BELL Summer, she got extra help in math – her weakest subject – and she truly excelled. She loves the program.”

TANISHABELL PARENT SPRINGFIELD, MA

Scholars are experiencing more success in their classes because of the preparation BELL gave throughout the summer. The impact of the summer learning program is also evident among students who have, in the past, had behavior issues in school. Thanks to the positive mentorship and social skills building activities in BELL Summer, these students are more motivated, focused, and engaged in learning.”

FRANKIE POLLOCK DEAN OF STUDENTS THOMOSBORO ACADEMYCHARLOTTE, NC

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approach

We use the word “scholar” so that children understand that they really are special because they take the time to keep their minds active and to be ahead of their peers.”

MARILYN ROSSBELL TEACHERBRONX, NY

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This has been a great experience for my son – he enjoyed engaging with his friends, going on field trips, learning different things. BELL has given him an opportunity to be himself, to be creative, and to get ready for the next grade, not just mentally, but socially as well. From this level, it only gets harder. The 9th grade sets a whole foundation for what you’re going to do in high school. It’s so critical – you have to be ready for the 9th grade, and BELL Summer has helped him be ready to succeed.”

DERRICK BELL PARENT CHARLOTTE, NC

1. We demonstrate HIGH EXPECTATIONS that all children can excel.

2. We DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS to support each scholar’s success.

3. We believe exceptional leadership creates an

ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING.

4. We demonstrate TEACHING EXCELLENCE.

5. We provide relevant and ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

BELL increases student achievement by partnering with schools and school districts to expand learning time. We customize educational experiences that take place in the summer, after school, before school, and on weekends and during school vacations, based on the needs and resources available in the schools and communities we serve.

At the center of BELL’s approach is a focus on building literacy and math skills. Activities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), health and physical fitness, and community service reinforce core academic skills and strengthen scholars’ engagement in learning. While BELL’s programs continue to evolve, one thing has never changed: our commitment to delivering the highest-quality learning experiences possible.

That commitment can be summarized in BELL’s five

CORE ESSENTIALS:

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learning & innovation

Every year, BELL gains new experience and expertise. We embrace a culture of continual improvement, constantly finding ways to strengthen quality and better serve the needs of scholars, families, and schools.

STEM

We are working with schools and community organizations to bring more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers into BELL classrooms, to test and roll out hands-on STEM curriculum in the summer, and to expose scholars to careers in the sciences. In 2012, scholars discovered robotics in San Jose, CA, conducted water quality experiments in Spartanburg, SC, and participated in field trips to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the New York Hall of Science.

BLENDED LEARNING

We are pairing classroom instruction and hands-on learning with technology-driven curricula to boost scholar engagement and propel achievement. Interactive lessons in reading and math reinforce key skills and generate deeper motivation to learn among scholars. They also provide additional data and insight into scholar learning needs that our teaching staff can use to further differentiate instruction.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

We are adopting new English Language Arts curricula and incorporating more nonfiction text into our literacy toolkits to best prepare scholars for success in high school. We are testing and expanding the use of character and leadership development curricula to help scholars meet the social challenges encountered in middle school.

NEXT-GENERATION ASSESSMENTS

We are piloting new computer-adaptive assessments that align more strongly with Common Core learning standards and are more efficient to use at scale. Our team is accessing data at a faster pace, leading to more time on task for scholars.

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We had a very good experience with BELL Summer. BELL raised philanthropic support to enable us to serve more students during the summer than we had in the past - for the same cost to the district. I really appreciated BELL contracting with an independent research company to measure program impact. As we are discussing our second year, I have been impressed with the continual improvement that BELL is proposing to make their program even more responsive to the needs of our students.”

DONALD MARTIN SUPERINTENDENT WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS

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Having the opportunity for our students to participate in BELL Summer is very important. We’re confident that having five weeks of learning time to engage in academics and enrichment provides students more time on task, prevents summer learning loss, and, even better, helps them progress further than where they were when school ended in June.”

ALISON COVIELLOPRINCIPALPS 154BRONX, NY

expanded learning partnerships

SUMMER QUEST

In New York City, a new initiative between the Department of Education, Fund for Public Schools, and Department of Youth & Community Development expanded access to creative, engaging, and fun summer learning programs for at-risk students. BELL operated two of the city’s first 12 Summer Quest sites and served 240 scholars.

One of the most important things learned over the past 20 years is that partnerships are central to impact and sustainability. Student success is and always will be driven by factors inside and outside of the school classroom and calendar. By aligning school and community resources, BELL is better able to meet the full spectrum of student needs.

PROJECT L.I.F.T.

In Charlotte, NC, local donors partnered with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and invested in a focused effort to boost achievement in the city’s nine lowest-performing schools. BELL was invited to serve 1,000 students across these schools in order to eliminate summer learning loss and prepare students to succeed in the new school year.

FRANKLIN-MCKINLEY CHILDREN’S INITIATIVE

In San Jose, CA, the city, one of its school districts, and a local intermediary organization, the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, worked together to bring BELL Summer to one challenged school. School test data showed that students in all other schools in the district experienced summer learning loss – while students participating in BELL Summer gained new skills.

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HOW CORPORATE PARTNERS ARE HELPING

In 2012, through its Smarter Summers campaign, Walmart helped BELL partner with school districts, share program costs, and deliver fun, educational, and healthy summer learning experiences for than 4,000 middle school scholars in Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, and New York City. Walmart further invested in BELL’s partnership model to reach additional scholars in San Jose and San Rafael, CA, Springfield, MA, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, NC, and Spartanburg, SC.

Target has made early literacy a priority and helped BELL strengthen the reading and writing skills of scholars in grades K-3 -- BELL’s Early Readers. Since 2007, Target’s support has helped thousands of scholars learn how to read by the third grade, a critical juncture when children switch from learning to read to reading to learn. Target is proud to support BELL and the work they do in literacy. By helping kids learn to read proficiently by the end of third grade, we’re putting more of them on the path to high school graduation so they’re ready for college, a career and life.”

LAYSHA WARD, PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY RELATIONSTARGET

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strategicplan

PRIORITIES

IMPACT

SUSTAINABILITY

EVIDENCE

2012 ACHIEVEMENTS

Expanded BELL’s reach in three new cities while producing strong scholar outcomes.

Formed new public-private partnerships in North Carolina, South Carolina, and California to share program costs.

Completed data collection during BELL Summer and collected follow-up fall test data for a rigorous independent evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.

2013 PRIORITIES

Expand learning time in one additional new city and achieve scholar outcome goals.

Deepen partnerships with schools and school districts to unlock renewable public funding, test new partnership models, and build regional advisory boards.

Complete final phase of independent evaluation activities by collecting state test data for BELL Summer participants and the control group.

2012 marks the halfway point for BELL’s strategic plan. The organization is raising growth capital to expand its impact, advance its sustainability plan, and generate more evidence of impact. Thanks to the generosity of foundation, corporate, and individual donors, BELL has raised more than $13M against a growth capital goal of $16.8M through 2014.

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HOW THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY IS HELPING

Tipping Point Community is helping BELL build partnerships and expand its impact in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of BELL’s Social Innovation Fund-driven strategic plan. Their growth capital helped to build a local leadership team and seed new partnerships in San Jose and San Rafael. The Tiger Foundation is one of BELL’s greatest champions in New York. In 2012, the Foundation increased its investment in BELL to help us build our evidence base and further strengthen quality and impact.

We invest in BELL because it prevents summer learning loss - a key contributor to the achievement gap. BELL’s quality programming, academic rigor, and proven results, in addition to the organization’s strong leadership and commitment to continuous improvement made it a great fit for our highly engaged, results-oriented approach to philanthropy.”

DANIEL LURIE, CEO & FOUNDERTIPPING POINT COMMUNITY

We have been pleased to support BELL’s work in New York since 2002. Our funding has enabled BELL to reach thousands of scholars with extended-day and summer literacy and math instruction, ensuring students continue on a path to high academic achievement. We have continued to invest in BELL be-cause of the academic results its scholars achieve due to its focus on a high-quality program supported by a rigorous curriculum. We look forward to continuing to see BELL bring high quality programs to young people in New York City as it enters its third decade.”

TIGER FOUNDATION

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financials

FY12 FINANCIAL SUMMARYJuly 1, 2011 -- June 30, 2012

Support & RevenueTotal: $26,055,555

ExpensesTotal: $25,680,797

Public Contracts (51%) $13,273,452

In-Kind & Other (7%)$1,926,645

Individuals & Events (4%) $948,086

Corporations (10%) $2,479,940

Foundations (29%) $7,427,432

Program (90%)$23,016,256

Fundraising (3%)$803,972

General & Administrative (7%)$1,860,569

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TO ALL WHO MAKE BELL’S IMPACT POSSIBLE, THANK YOU.

Lockhart Vaughan Foundation

Lone Pine Foundation, Inc.

Matilda R. Wilson Fund

National Summer Learning Association

The New York Community Trust

The New York Community Trust, the Ada Fund

Open Society Foundations

The Philanthropic Initiative

The Pinkerton Foundation

PNC Foundation

Prudential Foundation

PSEG

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

Robert Treat Paine Association

Rowland Foundation, Inc.

Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Samberg Family Foundation

Shippy Foundation

Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation

Social Impact Exchange

The Starr Foundation

T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc.

Thomas & Stacey Siebel Foundation

Tiger Foundation

Tipping Point Community

United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley

Victoria Foundation

Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation

The Wallace Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

William E. & Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust

Yawkey Foundation

CorporationsAtlantic-ACM

Bain Capital Children’s Charity

Bank of America

The Baupost Group Charitable Fund

Capital One

Castanea Partners

Citizens Bank

Con Edison Corporate Giving Program

Desire2Learn, Inc.

Deutsche Bank

The District Management Council

eCratchit

EMC

Ernst & Young

Francis M. Walley Insurance Agency

Gillette Company

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Goulston & Storrs

The Hartford

KPMG LLP

Macro Risk Advisors

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

MetLife Foundation

Metro Medical

New York Life Foundation

Piedmont Natural Gas

The PIMCO Foundation

Pitney Bowes Foundation

Foundations & Other Sources120 Broadway Partners

The Altman Foundation

American Eagle Outfitters Foundation

Andor Capital Management LLC

Associated Grant Makers of MA

Barr Foundation

Bernard Family Fund

Boston After School & Beyond

The Boston Foundation

Charles Hayden Foundation

Clayton Baker Trust

Cogan Family Foundation

The Edmond N. & Virginia H. Moriarty Foundation, Inc.

Edna McConnell Clark Foundation

Evans Family Foundation

FAO Schwarz Family Foundation

Foundation to be Named Later

Frank Family Foundation

George H. & Jane A. Mifflin Memorial Fund

Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

The Heckscher Foundation for Children

Highland Street Foundation

J.P.B. Foundation

Knez Family Charitable Foundation

The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

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The Reebok Foundation

Seawall Development Company

Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.

Solomon McCown & Company, Inc.

Sovereign Bank

State Street Foundation

Target Corporation

ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc.

TJX Foundation

Walmart

Warburg Pincus Foundation

WilmerHale

IndividualsGeraldine Acuna

Brett & Kate Alessi

Dave Ament

Paula Arrojo & Franco Finstad

John Averill

Jesse & Pamela Baker

Rachel Berkey & Michael Sperling

Nicholas Bogard

Michelle Boyers & Brad Gerstner

Jacob Bryant

Chris Bulger & Sylvia Maxfield

Joseph Campanelli

Russell Carlson

Todd & Ashley Carlson

Marc & Denise Casper

Kenneth & Virginia Colburn

Jennifer & Peter Conley

Bill Connolly

Phil & Lisette Cooper

Thomas Corcoran

Christopher & Heather Crosby

Randi & Joel Cutler

James Czapla

Bob & Susan D’Angelo

Anthony & Deanna DiNovi

Richard Donovan

Paul & Sandra Edgerley

John Eydenberg

Jennifer Fortner

Joe & Alison Freeman

Joe & Ruthanne Fuller

Gregory Galeaz

Joseph Gilles

Jason Ginsburg

Gabriel Gomez

Larry & Beth Greenberg

Gene & Susan Guill

Jennifer & David Gorman

Donna Hale & John Donovan, Jr.

Ray Hammond & Gloria White-Hammond

David & Sheryl Harkins

Barbara & Amos Hostetter

Scott & Olga Jaeckel

Lisa Joyce

Nancy Kaplan

Neal & Sue Karelitz

Robert Kelley

Peter Kellogg

John Kim & Kathy Choi

Debra Smith Knez

Gordon Lawrence

Seth & Cindy Lawry

William & Leslie Lee

Alan & Sherry Leventhal

Laraine & Jeff Levy

Donald & Bridgette Manekin

Harry & Jaime Manion

Paul & Diane Margolis

Sean & Jill Marsh

Lauren & Joseph Mazzella

Joseph & Kathleen McCarthy

Stanton & Lindsay McCullough

Paul & Susan Meister

Doug Miller

Karen & Jeff Miller

Martha Minow

Michele & Dave Mittelman

J.D. Moriarty

Valerie Mosley

John & Kathleen Murphy

George & Sharyn Neble

Soren & Caroline Oberg

Timothy & Cathy O’Neil

Steve & Judy Pagliuca

Lynne & Tim Palmer

Jim Pallotta

Susan Paternoster

Chris Piela

Carole & Art Prest

Charles & Jeri Queenan

Pamela & Richard Remis

Peter & Lisa Roblin

Richard Romanow

Etta & Mark Rosen

Joshua Ross

Jennifer Rynne

Justin Sadrian & Lee Kellogg Sadrian

Maurice & Luly Samuels

Will & Jodi Scarbrough

Robin & Steven Scari

Doug & Andi Shaw

Gary & Caryl Shaw

Brian Shortsleeve

Michael & Wendy Simches

Susan & Peter Simon

Rhonda & Robert Skloff

Rob & Dana Smith

Garrett & Catie Smith

Lauren Smith & James Boll

Laurene & Scott Sperling

Robert & Kathleen Stansky

Maureen Sweeney

Mark Taber

Susan & Michael Thonis

Joe Timilty

Peter Vaughan-Vail

Richard & Patti Wayne

Larry & Dawn Weber

Jackie & Alan Weinstein

Kent Weldon

Nina & Theodore Wells

Jeffrey Wright

Public Sources of Funding21st Century Community Learning Centers

Baltimore City Public Schools

Bank Street College of Education

Boston Public Schools

Corporation for National & Community Service

Department of Youth & Community Development

Detroit Public Schools

Family League of Baltimore City, Inc.

Franklin McKinley Children’s Initiative

Madison Square Boys & Girls Club

New York City Department of Education

San Rafael City Schools

Spartanburg School District 7

Springfield Public Schools

The After School Corporation (TASC)

Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Public Schools

In-KindBest Buy

Boston Public Schools

First Book National Book Bank

New York City Department of Education

Newark Public Schools

Springfield Public Schools

Donors listed gave at least $1,000 from the period beginning July 1, 2011 and ending September 30, 2012. This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Please contact Anne Cademenos (617-740-0431) if your name has accidentally been omitted from this list.

events & board of directors

Thank you to everyone who sponsored, supported and celebrated BELL through this year’s Talent Show, Be Extraordinary, and Homecoming events! These special events raise essential funds for our programs and introduce new friends to BELL.

TALENT SHOW

BELL kicked off its 20th Anniversary Celebration with the Talent Show Gala in November. BELL scholars performed alongside R&B singer-songwriter Colby O’Donis, a Boston University step team, and a Berklee College of Music a cappella group. Benji, a BELL alumnus, and Josette, a BELL parent, shared personal stories and celebrated BELL’s legacy with 280 guests at the Revere Hotel in Boston.

BE EXTRAORDINARY

Jonathon Batiste and the Stay Human Band headlined a special evening to celebrate BELL scholars with 175 guests at Millesime in New York City in March.

HOMECOMING

BELL’s Young Professionals Council rang in the new school year in September at The Union Club in Boston. The event introduced 180 new friends, volunteers, and donors to BELL.

BELL has given me an edge of maturity and leadership that most young people my age may not have. This edge will help me on my road to success. I realize the road is long but I’m not afraid because BELL has given me a foundation for high school and my future.”

BENJI BELL ALUMNUS BOSTON, MA

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSLaurene Sperling, Chair Sperling Family Charitable FoundationPaula Arrojo Goldman Sachs

Nicholas Bogard J. Nicholas Arthur

Tiffany C. Gueye, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer, BELL

Gene Guill Retired, Deutsche BankKathleen Kelley Queen Anne’s Capital Management, LLCJohn J-H Kim The District Management Council; Harvard Business School Debra Knez Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

Donald Manekin Seawall Development Company

Doug Miller Miller InSights, LLC

Soren Oberg, Vice Chair Thomas H. Lee Partners

Prof. Charles Ogletree, Jr., Chair Emeritus, Harvard Law School

Chris Piela FCCI Insurance Group

Justin Sadrian Warburg Pincus

Garrett Smith District Management Council

Dr. Lauren Smith Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health

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IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE

WILL HOLD...

In BELL’s first 20 years, we reached more than

100,000 scholars. In our next 20 years, we will

transform more children into scholars. We will

bring the classroom into the community, and the

community into the classroom. We will reshape

assumptions about when, where, and how learning

occurs. And we will advance a movement that

redefines the school day and school year and

improves educational opportunities for millions

of under-served scholars.

Imagine the difference that BELL will have on the

lives of so many scholars, who only need a bit more

time for learning to become inspired and motivated

to pursue their dreams…

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NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

60 Clayton StreetDorchester, MA 02122617. 282. 1567

PURSUING OUR MISSIONIN THE FOLLOWING STATES:

California New JerseyMaryland New YorkMassachusetts North CarolinaMichigan South Carolina

www.experienceBELL.org