Overview

A leading provider

BELL is a leading nonprofit provider of research-based, educational summer and after school experiences for children in grades K-8.  Core program elements common to the BELL Summer and BELL After School programs include:

  • Targeted Academic Instruction

    Scholars learn in a small-group environment.  A highly trained staff of educators use data from diagnostic tests and quizzes to identify scholars’ unique learning needs and target instruction.  Staff use skills-based curricula aligned to state and national learning standards, a leveled readers library of multicultural children’s books, math manipulatives, and project-based learning strategies to maximize student growth.

  • A Culture of High Expectations

    BELL staff members hold high expectations for student growth.  Students are called “scholars” to demonstrate BELL’s belief in their innate ability.

  • Mentorship

    Scholars are connected to young adult mentors from scholars’ communities who build strong, supportive relationships and inspire scholars to dream big.  

  • Enrichment

    BELL exposes students to a wide range of educational enrichment experiences such as science, environmental studies, leadership, creative arts, financial literacy, and health and nutrition.  Enrichment courses in BELL Summer prepare scholars for success in school, and inspire potential career paths.

  • Service

    BELL was founded as a service project and infuses service into its programs to develop an ethic of civic engagement and responsibility among scholars.

  • Parental Engagement

    BELL involves parents in educational activities, increases their communication with school teachers, and helps parents become effective advocates for their child’s education. 

  • Measurement

    Assessment and evaluation is a core competency at BELL.  Student performance and program quality are measured using standardized diagnostic tests; skills-based quizzes; scholar, parent, staff, and principal surveys; a quality-assurance site visit system; and a suite of program operating metrics. 

  • Click here to request information about enrolling your scholar in BELL a program.

training

Delivering transformative educational experiences requires a high-performing corps of educators, including teachers, tutors, teachers’ assistants, and specialty instructors. BELL has developed a world-class blended training model that includes an award-winning web-based “eLearning” platform and classroom-based training on a wide variety of topics.

 

Thanks to the support of key partners, BELL is making its eLearning platform available to program providers to increase the quality of instruction in extended learning programs throughout the country. Learn more.