San Diego, CA–The San Diego Foundation and San Diego Unified School District announced the availability of approximately $14 million for San Diego community-based, youth development and education-serving nonprofits offering summer programming to students this year.
Educators say the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the local communities and create inequities for students. The summer programs can help students accelerate their learning skills with the help of community organizations.
“Through Level Up SD and our partnership with San Diego Unified and local nonprofit organizations, we can help our children recover with consistent free summertime enrichment to accelerate learning and address their social-emotional needs,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of The San Diego Foundation
“The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted many of the existing gaps and inequities in our educational system, and the biggest gap of all happens over the summer when students typically slide backwards in their learning,” said Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, President of the San Diego Unified Board of Education. “We committed to funding both academic and enrichment activities last year over the summer to keep the learning going year-round, and this announcement today is the continuation of that commitment. We are all in for expanded education opportunities all year.”
A partnership between The San Diego Foundation, San Diego Unified School District, and local nonprofit organizations, Level Up SD was launched in summer 2021 to provide free summer academic and enrichment programming for students enrolled in San Diego Unified elementary, middle, and high schools.
Combined with morning academic programming provided by San Diego Unified, last summer more than 12,000 students enrolled in afternoon enrichment programming provided by more than 80 San Diego-area nonprofit organizations. Level Up SD re-connected students to each other and learning environments; introduced students to new, life-changing experiences; supported student social and emotional health by nurturing a sense of belonging, community, and healing; and grew capacity across education and philanthropy sectors.
The deadline to apply for a grant is noon on Feb. 18. To assist with the grant application process. The grant application and grant guidelines for the summer 2022 Level Up SD program is available at SDFoundation.org/LevelUpSD.