FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtney Lewis
Marketing/Communications
Contact:
Michele Burbage, School-age Childcare Director
Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut
203 744 4890 x109
[email protected]
Regional YMCA’s Children Center chosen as
Khan Academy Pilot Location
Bethel, Connecticut – As a leader in youth development in our community, the Regional Y believes the
values and skills learned early in life are vital building blocks for future academic and personal success.
Because of our expertise in early childhood and afterschool education, the Regional YMCA’s Children
Center was recently selected to be one of four Khan Academy pilot programs in Fairfield County.
As a pilot program we will be given the tools and training needed to incorporate more online educational
resources into afterschool programming focused specifically on mathematics.
Across the state, there is a growing realization that children – especially at-risk, underprivileged students
- need to be engaged academically during out-of-school hours in order to keep up with today’s rigorous
and competitive educational standards. Studies indicate that children who attend quality
before/afterschool programs like the Regional Y’s exhibit higher cognitive abilities, score higher on
standardized tests, and go on to complete more years of schooling.
The Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the Connecticut After School Network are partnering
with Khan Academy and the YMCA to bring more online learning tools into area after school programs.
Khan Academy offers online mini lectures, practice problems and educational tools to both students and
educators.
As part of the pilot program, the Regional YMCA will receive special training and guidance on utilizing
Khan Academy teaching tools. This will allow the Y to continue to enhance its online learning activities,
further expanding the Children’s Center’s abilities to advance students’ academic skills.
At the end of the pilot study, surveys will assess students’ attitudes toward math and the pilot’s impact on
program staff, students, parents and in-school teachers.
“We are grateful to be able to work with such a notable organization as Khan Academy and are pleased
that both The Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the Connecticut After School Network
recognize our afterschool programming excellence. This pilot is an exciting opportunity to learn how to
optimize online resources to better support student’s progress,” said Marie Miszewski, President and CEO,
Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut.
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About the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut
The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut is a charitable, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community
service organization dedicated to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities
through the development of spirit, mind, and body. The Regional YMCA strives to serve all. It
operates a full service facility in Brookfield, and 3 program sites by providing a wide variety of
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programs and services to the residents in the 22 towns in Greater Danbury and Eastern Putnam
County, NY:
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Quality all-day, pre and after-school childcare.
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Summer day camps at 4 locations.
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Wellness and aquatic programs for youth, teens and adults.
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Youth leadership programming as well as painting, drama, dance, sculpture, pottery,
computer graphics, photography and more at The Center for the Arts and Humanities,
home to ESCAPE to the Arts, Danbury.