Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced an additional $1.8 million in funding to support programming to keep San Francisco children and youth engaged and learning over the summer months. The additional funds, which were approved by San Francisco voters in November 2014 as part of Proposition C, will help ensure that all children and youth have access to high quality summer programs at school and community-based sites throughout San Francisco. The infusion of additional funding for summer programs will allow Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF), Recreation and Park Department (RPD), San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) and HOPE SF to increase summer programming access for families in the City by more than 55 percent.

“This summer in San Francisco, we are making sure all our youth have access to summer programs and activities to keep them learning and engaged with experiences that they will take with them through school, in college and in their future careers,” said Mayor Lee. “Offering meaningful and engaging learning opportunities for our youth during these summer months is an investment in helping our families succeed in our City.”

“We know that, in addition to a safe home and good schools, our children need opportunities for playtime, exercise and social interaction,” said Supervisor Julie Christensen. “We know that, during summer vacation, working parents need to know their children are safe and happy, and that summer offers a chance for young students to continue to learn and explore. This generous increase of funding for community and school-based summer programs will help hundreds more San Francisco children have a great summer.”

Summer programs play a critical role in the lives of children, youth and families in San Francisco. Research shows that high-quality and engaging summer programs prevent summer learning loss, close the income-based achievement gap among youth, and strengthen students’ social skills, work habits, attitudes, and readiness to learn.  Youth who participate in summer programs increase their literacy and mathematics skills by a third over youth who do not attend summer programming, and 84 percent of summer program participants report increased motivation and ability to complete school work.

“Children want to learn, especially when we make it fun and engaging. Whether they choose summer programs at our schools or elsewhere, we want families and youth to know that there is a summer learning opportunity that’s right for them,” said SFUSD Superintendent Richard A. Carranza. “In collaboration with the City we are dedicated to providing as many opportunities to our youth as possible.”

“Thanks to the additional funds for summer programming, more San Francisco children and youth than ever will have access to high quality summer learning opportunities,” said DCYF Director Maria Su. “The City’s children and youth can look forward to a summer filled with engaging academic, enrichment, and recreational activities.”

The summer programs that are involved in the initiative include over 50 community-based programs and 31 school-site based programs for grades K-8, all of which are funded by DCYF. RPD funds an additional 50 programs Citywide at full-service recreation centers, club houses, and aquatic facilities.

“There is no more important mission than to keep kids engaged, safe and connected during summer,” said Phil Ginsburg, Recreation and Park General Manager.  “We thank Mayor Lee for his leadership and support so that SF Rec and Park can offer more kids the opportunity to pursue their inspiration in the outdoors.”

San Francisco families who have not yet enrolled their children in a summer program are invited to visit DCYF’s website, which will feature information about how to sign up the City-funded summer programs that are a part of Mayor Lee’s initiative. For more information, go to: www.dcyf.org or call 3-1-1.

The last day of public school for the spring semester is May 29, 2015.