Three out of four low-income children in the U.S. fail to meet standards for mathematical proficiency in the fourth grade, as compared with only 41 percent of middle-income children. To support students struggling with math, it takes highly skilled educators and coordinated programs, particularly in remote environments. BellXcel provides an evidence-based software platform designed to help schools and community-based organizations design, manage, and deliver high-quality summer and afterschool programs for youth, including programs focused on improving math skills and engagement.
During the pandemic, BellXcel’s software platform proved to be a scalable way to provide partners the support they needed for addressing instructional and operational challenges and confidently implementing high-quality programs in virtual, in-person, and hybrid environments.
In summer 2021, BellXcel grew their reach from 17,000 students to over 70,000 students, ensuring engaging and holistic learning experiences were available to students, families, and teachers. In addition to growing reach, the organization maintained a high level of impact: 81-84 percent of participating families reported their child’s growth in key socioemotional domains, including confidence, problem-solving, and communication skills. And students who pre-tested below 40th and 10th percentiles gained two and 2.5 months of math skills, respectively.
Overdeck Family Foundation provided unrestricted funding and strategic support to help BellXcel take a remote summer model from an idea to a reality in just a few months, which was crucial to meeting community demand during the pandemic. With our investment, the BellXcel team was able to build out and launch their innovative platform, achieve high growth numbers, and adapt to support students, families, teachers, and the out-of-school-time field throughout the pandemic.
Enhancing each stage of childhood learning, from birth to high school.
Overdeck Family Foundation focuses exclusively on education, providing funding across four focus areas that encompass the whole child from birth through high school both inside and outside the classroom.