Freedom School is a six-week summer program that supports scholars and their families through five essential components: high quality academic and character-building enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational servant leadership development; and nutrition, health, and mental health (Children’s Defense Fund). Freedom School encourages all scholars to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families, schools, communities, country, and world with hope, education, and action (Children’s Defense Fund).
Freedom School empowers scholars with rich, culturally relevant activities and high-quality books that instills in them a love of reading to help them avoid summer learning loss, while deepening scholars’ understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others (Children Defense Fund).
We serve children who are currently in Kindergarten through 8th grade at multiple locations around Charlotte. Each one of our Freedom School sites prioritize welcoming scholars from designated neighborhoods and surrounding schools. The Freedom School program can not support pre-kindergarten/rising kindergarten scholar.
Freedom School Partners is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive enrichment environment for all scholars and does not discriminate on the basis of disability, health status, or medical condition. While staff are trained in classroom management and student engagement, they are not certified to provide individualized medical care or specialized therapeutic, behavioral, or educational supports.
Freedom School Partners reserves the right to determine, on an individualized basis, whether a scholar’s needs can be reasonably accommodated within the scope of the program. Enrollment may be discontinued if a scholar’s needs exceed program capacity.
Have a high school scholar?
Previous scholars who have aged out of the Freedom School summer program and are now in high school may be eligible to participate in the Freedom School Partners (FSP) Academy. FSP Academy is a program that engages high school students with previous Freedom School experience in a year-round developmental program focused on:
- Leadership, professional, and character development
- Post high school navigation, college readiness and career preparation
- Junior Servant Leader Internship training
For more information about FSP Academy, email Necole Watts at [email protected].
Freedom School 2026 will be from Monday, June 22rd – Thursday, July 30th.
Location
Each one of our Freedom School sites serves a particular school or community area. Please click here to learn if your child attends one of the schools or lives in one of the communities that we traditionally serve. Each site provides an inviting environment for scholars. A traditional Freedom School site has a fellowship area for scholars to gather for group activities such as Harambee!, meals, afternoon enrichment activities, and classrooms for scholars to participate in morning curriculum activities.
Classroom
Each Freedom School classroom is decorated to create a fun and encouraging atmosphere to promote the overall Freedom School theme of, “I can make a difference.” Each day, the classroom’s lesson information, which includes the focus skill and objectives, is posted for scholars to review.
Site Staff
Site Coordinator (SC) – Leader of overall site logistics.
Site Administrative Intern (SAI) – Administrative and classroom support.
Servant Leader Intern (SLI) – Classroom leader.
Jr. Servant Leader Intern (JSL) – (Not available at all sites) – Additional site and classroom support.
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Arrival and Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
“Harambee!”
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Integrated Reading Curriculum
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Morning Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Integrated Reading Curriculum
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
D.E.A.R. Time (Drop Everything and Read)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon Enrichment Activities
3:00 p.m.
Dismissal
Freedom School scholars begin their day with Harambee!. Harambee! is a Kiswahili term that means “pull together”. It is a chance for scholars and staff to get the day started with enthusiasm. Harambee! includes: a read aloud with a community reader (parents/guardians are welcome to serve as a community reader), a motivational song, cheers and chants, and announcements.
The IRC is a culturally responsive curriculum developed by the Children’s Defense Fund. The goal of the curriculum is to help readers and non-readers fall in love with books (Children’s Defense Fund). It includes weekly activities to help staff and scholars reflect on the following weekly themes: Self, Family, Community, Country, World, and With Hope, Education and Action (Children’s Defense Fund).
Scholars in Freedom School are separated according to level. Level Is are currently in grades K-2, Level IIs are currently in grades 3-5, and Level IIIs are currently in grades 6-8. Classrooms and field trips/afternoon enrichment activities are separated according to these levels.
We are so excited that you are part of Freedom School! This portal provides easy access for the scholars and family to create a profile, register, and view other important information.
2025 Impact
Like the scholars we serve, Freedom School Partners is making amazing strides. Learn more about our impact.