ALearn - 2015 Annual Report

2015 ALEARN ANNUAL REPORTALearn3777 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 330Santa Clara, CA 95051408 . 260 . 7545alearn.org ff f in in in MATH STRONG @alearn4kids linkedin.com/company/alearn4kids COLLEGE READYfacebook.com/alearn.org

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OUR DONORSVISIONARY // $50,000 and above US Bancorp Foundation David Lee Pamela Foley Joel and Dalia Orr Dear ALearn Friends and Supporters,Geschke Foundation Valerie Vasquez Mark Loretan Louis Fonseca Rita OusterhoutSilicon Valley Community Foundation John and Marva Warnock Los Altos Rotary Jann and Graham Freeman Ashit Patel Kathryn Hanson Diane Frankle At ALearn, we believe, as Nelson Mandela stated, “EducationPamela and Ed Taft Western Digital Foundation Endowment Fund Charitable Fund John Porter is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change theYahoo! MENTOR // $2,500-$4,999 Judy Marcus John Froman Laura Potter world.” We aim to change the world, hundreds of students at aCHAMPION // $25,000-$49,999 Barbara Adey Matrix Precise Inc. Chris Funk Paige Powers time. Focusing on prospective first-generation college studentsCisco Corinne Augustine James McCanna Scott Gerken Massimo Prati from underserved backgrounds, ALearn seeks to close the op-House Family Foundation Anne Avis Andrea Mravca Lissa Goldenstein Barbara Krzyczkowska portunity gap which keeps so many students from low-incomeLeo M. Shortino Family Foundation Blach Construction Company Mike and Yvonne Nevens Google Private Ocean LLC backgrounds from attending and successfully completing college.Sobrato Family Foundation Allan Brenneis Kathryn Purmal GoPro Protiviti Education is the weapon of social and economic justice.Duston and Jennifer Williams Judy Bruner Jeff Rensch and John Sack Maxine M Goulding Holly QuittmanLEADER // $10,000-$24,999 Nancy Bush Emil Scoffone Kim and Rick Guptill Lilanthi Ravishankar and Ravi Balaji 2015 was indeed a great year at ALearn. We changed the lives of over 1,500 students, boosting theirAdobe Julie Cates and Fred Ware Gilbert Simonetti Jan S. Half Joseph and Raye Ringholz math proficiency, college readiness, and “growth mindset.” It’s hard to believe we started in 2008 withBelleJAR Foundation Clyde & Melissa Dyrdahl Charitable Fund Deborah Stipek Stephen Hams Daniel Robles just 100 students! Over the past 8 years, we have served 8,000 students in 15 school districts in SanBruce and Gail Chizen Maureen Dorney Mary Tate Kathleen Hanson Julia Rose Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.Deloitte LLP Teresa and William Elder Karen Tate and Charlie Krenz Wolfgang Hausen Victor and Barbara SakaMike and Mary Ellen Fox The Brett & Michelle Galloway Foundation Sanjay Vaswani Hayes Resources Group LLC Jennifer Salcman At ALearn we have built a learning organization of dedicated professionals who partner with public schoolDiane and Robert Frankle Genentech Alberto Villaluna Diane Hayward Kathryn Salmanowitz districts, their teachers, students and counselors, to increase underserved students’ access to high quality,Jared Darby and Emily Garlick Greenberg Traurig Pegi and Mark Wheeler Mary Ann Hayward Brigitte Sarraf blended learning programs. With the help of a stellar Board, we have developed a solid and diverse rev-William and Charlene Glikbarg Foundation Hewlett-Packard Company Hans and Elizabeth Wolf Hamilton and Lalia Helmer Frank Siebenlist and Eileen Tsai enue base that allows us to grow every year and serve even more students.Harrington Family Foundation Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley FRIEND // Up to $999 Rebecca Hettema Si Val Advisors, LLCKaye Scholer LLP Asset Management Co Marilee Adams Daniel Huenergardt Natasha Skok In 2016, we have plans for plenty of innovation. Thanks to a grant from the David and Lucile PackardLeslie Family Foundation Pradeep Jotwani and Ranjana Advani Alliance Member Services Steve Huggins Susan Sweeley Foundation, we are introducing our new Catalyst to College program helping students throughout theirLos Altos Town Crier Holiday Fund Kelly Money Management Erna Arnesen IMD James and Susan Sweeney high school career. We also initiated several new partnerships with non-profits in East Palo Alto andMarkkula Foundation Mark and Debra Leslie Peter Astiz Karen Janowski Eszter Szikora San Jose which will allow ALearn programs to reach even more students. We continue to evolve inWebb and Chris McKinney Teresa Luchsinger Dave and Joan Barram Judie Johnson Valerie Taglio ways that increase our quality and leverage our resources cost effectively.Microsoft Steve and Robin MacDonald Eric Basart Geeta Kadambi Tim TaichOn-Site.com Patti McCrory Betsy E Bayha Barbara Kamm Scott Taper We invite you to see our impact and join us in the ALearn mission to change the lives of prospective first-Phil and Nobuko Palmer Chris and Donna Paisley Megan Beck Todd and Julie Kaye Janet H. Tate generation college students from underserved backgrounds.Reddere Foundation Rotary Club of Menlo Park Carole Bellis Crendal Kear Lindsay TaylorSanDisk Corporate Fund Safeway Foundation Christine Benninger David Keller Darlene Tenes Sincerely,Seagate San Jose Water Company Joseph Beyers Ed and Susan Klar Rudy and Lily TenesSharks Foundation Tate Family Trust Frank Biehl Betty Klem Richard Thesing Kathryn S. Hanson Diane Frankle Lisa Sobrato Sonsini and Matt Sonsini Technology Credit Union Helen P. Bigelow Veronica Kogler Dieu Tran Founder & CEO Board ChairSuper Bowl 50 Fund ADVOCATE // $1,000-$2,499 Eva Blanc Richard Koo Latisha VargasHERO // $5,000-$9,999 Heffernan Insurance Gilles Bouchard Karen and Mel Kronick Walmart HIGHLIGHTSNed and Jimi Barnholt Marcia and Jonathan Adams Rich Brewer Joyce Kuo Fiona WalterJan Birenbaum Barracuda Networks Rich Bronstein Hansup and Heemook Kwon Kevin Wandryk Our students came, they learned, they accelerated:BJ Cassin Rich Braugh Julie Brooks Ladera Garden Center Mariette Denise Wharton • 1,526 students filled 62 different classes at 25 school sites.Extreme Networks Brian Brogan Kathy Budzinski Gaye Landau-Leonard Meg Withgott • 80% of students in ALearn’s Algebra 1 class passed and accelerated to Geometry in theirCharles J. and Heather E. Fitzgerald Helen Calverley Wendy Calia Robert and Jeanette Latta Cindy WorthingtonKathryn and Kirk Hanson Hope Anne Case Olga Campa Dorothy Lazier David and Gerry Wright freshman year, putting them a full year ahead of where they would have been. 86% ofHitachi Data Systems Sally Crawford Janel Canepa Arlene Leslie Clay Young ALearn’s Geometry students accelerated into Algebra II as freshmen, putting them on theLantern League James Duzak Susan and Sanford Carnahan Andrea R. Lichter Nancy and Brad Zehring path to Calculus.Francis and Evelyn Lee Engel Family Fund Laura Casas Judith Little Anthony and Teresa Zingale • 96% of ALearn students from our second Catalyst classes graduated from high school,Lockheed Carol Flaherty Elizabeth Cholawsky Andre Liu whereas only 75% of their peers graduated in 2014.Los Altos Community Foundation Sally J. Fong Barbara Coll Gabriel Loera • 76% of these same students were college-eligible upon graduation in 2014, compared toNetApp Gallo Family Fund Barbara Courtney Sally MacDonald 26% of their peers.David and Lucile Packard Foundation Kim Funk Judy Crates Keith Matasci • 92% of these students were from low-income backgrounds, and 83% were students of color.C.S. and Jin Park Nancy and Rick Goldcamp Thomas J. Crotty David McEachronJanet and Allen Podell Debbie and Russ Hall Juan Cruz Yolande MelbourneThe Robert Sean Cassin Trust Jeffrey and Caron Heimbuck Lindsay Cunningham Celerino MercadoSanta Clara County Realtors Foundation Robert Hum Chris and Lyndy Dangerfield Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas G. MooreSecond Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara Elizabeth Carole Isnard Danner Family Fund Morrison & Foerster FoundationSecond Harvest Food Bank of San Mateo Joanne Kagle Catherine Derringer Ethel MostrelSpreng Family Fund Lyndell and Sean Kelly Chris Dewees Bill MurphyJohn and Allyn Taylor Christine S. Kenrick Sudha Durvasula Jana NeilThistlewood Foundation Johan Knall Patricia A Einarson Carole NicholsBill Unger Al Lauer Equinix, Inc. Sharon Ogbor14 3

PROG R A M  OV ERVIE W OUR FIN A NCESAll of our programs build the skills, knowledge, and confidence students need to be successful on a college- 2015 INCOME STATEMENTpreparatory curriculum in high school, while changing their attitudes about themselves, their ability to learn,and their ability to be accepted to and succeed in college. All of our programs are free and feature: INCOME Individual/Family Foundations Common Core Math College Readiness “Growth Mindset” Corporate $ 480,041 Curriculum Gifts In-Kind/Donated Services 266,093• Hands-on, project- • Instruction and practice Foundation Grants 56,862 based, blended learning • College-student TAs as role in Growth Mindset concepts, Program Service Fees (Schools) 220,800 models, many of whom are based on the work of Carol Miscellaneous - Interest 290,409• Credentialed teachers first in their families to Dweck: Special Events 3,453• Common Core Profes- attend college • Intelligence is not Total Income & Contributions 15,300 fixed, but can grow EXPENSES sional Development • A Field Trip to a local and change Program & Operating Costs 1,332,959 training for Teachers university • Hard work and attitude and Teaching Assistants determine sucess MAP Summer 302,388 (TAs) • A College Inspiration Night • Failure can lead to MAP+ 143,863• Comprehensive for students and families resilience Catalyst 230,175 assessments, including GEM pre-and post-program • An End-of-Program • Growth Mindset Professional Fundraising & Events 19,726 math tests and Celebration for families Development training for Programs Sub–Total 303,856 attitudinal surveys Teachers and TAs General Expenses 1,000,008 Wages/Payroll Taxes/Employee Benefits Student Demographics 4% The students we serve are generally Accounting/Audit/Legal 100,454 9% struggling in school, and the majority Donated Services/Gifts In-Kind 13,917 Latino come from socio-economically dis- Professional Fees & Development/Encore Fellow 50,402 Native American 2% advantaged families and traditionally Supplies/Postage/Printing 12,585 African American underserved racial and ethnic groups. Telephone/Telecommunications 7,100 Caucasian 24% Website & Marketing 4,316 Asian Office Rent/Support 39,319 61% Conference/Meetings/Misc Travel 16,206 Depreciation 3,120High School 1425 1526 Insurance/Bank Charges/Bad Debt 666Middle School General Expenses Sub–Total 14,445 1282 1406 ALearn has served Total Expenses 746 NET INCOME 262,530 1036 7,843 1,262,538 students in $ 70,421 308 8 years114 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 13 Number of Students Served Per Year4

IN V EST IN OUR FUTUR E...TODAY ALearn students are: Underserved Students of Color Santa Clara County StudentsAn old Swahili proverb states that “Wisdom is wealth.” In the U.S., this is all too true. Those with a higher 3x ALearn Studentslevel of education, earn more dollars, and even live longer lives. Every parent wants a better future for theirchildren. But how do they get there? College–ready* at three times 96% 76%At ALearn, we’re working every day to instill wisdom in our most precious assets…our children. The greatest the rate of their district peers 75% 84%predictor to wealth is education. Please pledge today to help our underrepresented children increase wisdom 54%and increase their chances of being the first in their families to earn a college degree. *Completed all requirements to be admitted to a UC or CSU Graduated High SchoolWays you can invest in our children and our future: 26% $ 15,000 can fund 1 classroom of underrepresented students in a summer math program Graduated College Ready $ 10,000 can pay for 10 students through ALearn’s year-round math programs $ 5,000 can pay for 1 teacher increasing her expertise in Common Core Math *2014 East Side Union High School District data $ 2,500 can help 1 Teaching Assistant student-mentor striving to become a teacher $ 1,500 pays for 1 college field trip for 100 students Girls Exploring Math (GEM) $ 1,000 can fund 1 student through ALearn’s year-round math programsContact Vice President of Development, Sharon Ogbor, at [email protected], to fulfill your investment ALearn’s Girls Exploring Math (GEM) is an after-school enrichment program that encourages and supportspledge or to become involved in our work. the growth of 7th and 8th grade girls in mathematics, college readiness, leadership, and empowerment. The program also encourages girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. The12 program’s 17 days of instruction include seven main elements: 1. Pearson’s Math Navigator Common Core curriculum 2. “Growth Mindset” lessons 3. College readiness lessons 4. Leadership and empowerment lessons 5. Girl Talks—Teacher-led discussions of issues relevant to the girls’ lives, from choosing friends to handling failure to thinking about math-related careers 6. Khan Academy exercises— An online resource that offers free video tutorials and exercises 7. Homework support Catalyst to High School The six-week, six-hours-per-day intensive ALearn summer program assists students to improve their Common Core math skills and to pass Algebra I, Geometry, Intro to Common Core Math 1, or Common Core Math 1 before their freshman year of high school. Eighteen college readiness lessons cover topics such as: Transition to High School, Goal Setting, and Understanding A­–G Requirements. Khan Academy, a free online math resource, is used to supplement instruction. The TA is a mentor and coach to the students and facilitates the college-readiness curriculum designed to expose students to what the college path entails and to increase their belief that college is obtainable for them. 61% of our 2015 Catalyst to High School TAs plan to become teachers. 2015 STUDENT MATH RATES 86% 80% of Geometry students passed and accelerated into Algebra II of Algebra I students passed and accelerated into Geometry 5

PROG R A M  OV ERVIE W NE W THIS  Y E A R: CATA LYST  TO  COLLEGEMath Acceleration Program (MAP) The best thing is the We are pleased to partner with the David and Lucile Packard Founda-ALearn’s MAP is an intensive summer enrichment program that helps motivation. tion in piloting Catalyst to College6th and 7th grade underrepresented students succeed in Pre-Algebra, through a $500,000 four‑year grant.Algebra and Common Core Math. The program’s 80 hours (19 days) of They give you tons of Catalyst to College is an intensiveinstruction are equivalent to approximately half a year of math instruction “you cans” and no “you educational support and mentoringand help close the middle school achievement gap in mathematics. MAP program that combines peer-to-peeralso helps counter “summer learning loss” by keeping students actively can’ts,” which is the support, college admissions prepa-engaged in learning through brain-stimulating lessons and activities. ration, and leadership development. best! – 2015 ALearn MAP Student The program engages students fromIn 2015, 6th Graders tackled modules in Geometry and Fractions, and low-income backgrounds and pre-their scores improved an average of 30% and 33%, respectively, from pares them for college by creating athe pre-test to the post-test. For 7th Graders, the modules covered Per- college-going culture on their highcents and Positive Rational Numbers, and their scores improved 34% school campuses, and by providingand 30%, respectively, from the pre-test to the post-test. 65% of our a peer support system in college.2015 MAP TAs aspire to become teachers. The pilot will take place on two high school campuses, Independence and Yerba Buena in San Jose.MAP+ The program focus is on developing students’ attitudes, commitment, and skills, including problem solving and accessing resources. Students are recruited before their sophomore year of high schoolMAP+ is our after-school math support class for 6th and 7th grade and begin participating in team-building and cultural activities on a regular basis.students who were in ALearn’s Math Acceleration Program (MAP) theprevious summer and/or are below grade level. The program runs for Recruitment of 100 current 9th grade48 hours, over 12 weeks. students has already begun. The pro- gram officially kicks off in the summer,ALearn Changes Attitudes: “The results demonstrate improvement on all of with a College Week held at Santathe assessments of students’ motivation.” Clara University. Students will spend the week working in groups, exploring – Deborah Stipek, Dean, Stanford Graduate School of Education and ALearn Board Member the campus, meeting first-generation college graduates, and going on a See mastering See math as cultural-enrichment field trip to San math as being useful Francisco museums. During the important regular school year, ALearn staff will maintain a presence in both high More confident More able to More interested schools and will help students navigate in their math organize math in learning preparing for and applying to college, ability math and will track their progress through work high school and into college.6 Catalyst to College engages students from low-income backgrounds and prepares them for college through intensive educational support, mentoring, peer support, and leadership development. 11

TE ACHING AS S ISTA NT PROFILE S T U D E N T  P R O F I L EFor many high school graduates, going away to Courtesy of Keith Durflinger When you meet Christina Vasquez for the first class quickly became her community— helpingcollege can be daunting. But for first-generation time, you are going to get a hug. That’s your first her map out a 4-year high school plan and spark-students such as Glenda Vargas, of Mountain “Everything connected because of that summer,” hint that this 15-year-old from Mt. View is special. ing her dreams to become the first in her family toView, the leap was much more formidable. “It she said. “Because I got that boost of confidence She is bubbly and exuberant when she tells us “I attend university.was super scary,” said Vargas, 20, now a junior in math, I was able to explore opportunities in high love the environment of people who are yearningat Chapman University in Orange County. “When school.” While at Los Altos High, she tutored math to make changes...Teachers are the ones raising “Teachers are the ones raising people to do allmy mom calls and I try to tell her what I’m go- to at-risk Crittenden students, became a leader of people to do all these creative things!” these creative things.” — Christina Vasquezing through, it’s really, really hard to explain.” Her the Latino Student Union, completed calculus and Her teachers have fostered Christina’s creativity.family didn’t have any idea about things such as was accepted to colleges. As an ALearn student in 2014, she shined in a Christina is fast becoming an ambassador fortough classes, dorm living, Greek life and her talent show at the end of our summer program. ALearn, representing the students we serve atrecent role as a resident assistant overseeing a “Everything connected because of that summer Together with other classmates, she composed ALearn fundraisers and donor check presenta-floor full of freshmen. and performed “Let’s Graph a Line” to the tune tion events, such as the Santa Clara CountyThat Vargas made it to Chapman and is thriving at ALearn.” — Glenda Vargas of the “cup song” in the movie, Pitch Perfect. Realtors Foundation. She was also pictured onis due to her own grit and courage, but also to Christina led this talented group for this perfor- the billboard of Super Bowl City’s “Faces of 50”ALearn, a nonprofit math-preparation and col- Vargas is majoring in education and double-minor- mance in front of a standing ovation crowd at when ALearn received a grant from the Superlege-readiness program tailored to low-income, ing in math and leadership. After earning her bach- ALearn’s fundraising dinner. She continues to Bowl 50 Fund.underrepresented students in the South Bay and elor’s degree in May 2017, she will continue for a sing in the Madrigals group at Mountain View When asked if she’d like to use her vocal talentson the Peninsula. A math teacher at Crittenden year at Chapman to get a master’s degree and High School. in a professional career, Christina reveals sheMiddle School in Mountain View recommended teaching credential -- so she can realize her dream would rather help others as a teacher. She looksher for a summer booster session in 2009. of teaching high school math. Christina, leading her fellow students in “Let’s Graph a Line.” forward to the day when she can become a col- lege student and an ALearn Teaching Assistant.Courtesy of Keith Durflinger She’s returned for the past two summers to her Her parents have always supported her and Needless to say, students like Christina inspire Mountain View family and worked as a teaching encouraged her to stay on the college track. But us all at ALearn to keep reaching students whoIt turned out to be a pivotal experience for the assistant at ALearn’s Catalyst program, to inspire Christina has had to veer away from some pro- will someday pay it forward.teenager, who commuted on an early-morning more students like her… grams and clubs at her high school, becausebus with her best friend to get to summer school her family cannot afford them. 7by 7 a.m… …The program is not just a rehash of last year’s When she heard that ALearn’s program was free,…When Vargas took the ALearn class, it was math class. It offers more hands-on and project Christina jumped on it. She wanted to shore upcombined with a college-prep program, known learning that’s fun, Vargas said. “That really worked her Algebra skills before high school, but she gotas AVID, for students who would be the first in for me and my style of learning.” more than she expected. In 6 weeks, her ALearntheir families to attend college. The program in-cluded science, English and community-building. Vargas [is] inspiring a brother to transfer to a four-Vargas passed algebra I that summer and ad- year college, and a cousin in third grade proudlyvanced to geometry as a freshman with other wears a Chapman sweater. “Not just for my family,high-achieving students. She said she wouldn’t but my extended family,” she said. “I’m exposinghave been able to achieve it all without ALearn. them to a different life.”10 Excerpted from San Jose Mercury News article by Sharon Noguchi. Courtesy of Bay Area News Group.

THOUG HT  LE ADERSHIPAt ALearn, we seek to light the fires of excitement about learning, Education is not WHY GROWTH  MINDSET ?about math, about a student’s future. Our students come to us the filling of a pail,lacking opportunity and support, often behind in math, from an but the lighting of In many ways, the ability to survive and thrive depends on coping skills. We hope to build in each studentunderserved background. a fire. –W.B. Yeats a “growth mindset” that hard work and dedication can help them improve and learn in all subjects, including math. Math is not a binary competency; it can be built, assuming that students are taught MATH + COLLEGE READINESS + how to view and overcome challenges. Our instruction is based on the research of Stanford Psychology GROWTH MINDSET = professor, Carol Dweck. OUR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Growth Fixed WHY COLLEGE ? Mindset MindsetBy 2020, 65% of all jobs will require post-secondary 65 % OF ALL JOBS I can learn anything I want to. I’m either good at it, or I’m not.education, and 95% of STEM jobs will require col- When I’m frustrated, I perservere. When I’m frustrated, I give up.lege. College is the great equalizer which allows % OF STEM JOBS 95 I want to challenge myself. I don’t like to be challenged.students of any background to begin a successful When I fail, I learn. When I fail, I’m no good.career. A college graduate earns $1 million more Tell me I try hard. Tell me I’m smart.over a career than her peers who only If you succeed, I’m inspired. If you succeed, I feel threatened.graduate from high school. My effort and attitude determine everything. My abilities determine everything.In California, Latino students represent 51% of WHY SUMMER ? Adapted from a graphic by Reid Wilson, @wayfaringpaththe K-12 students, but only 12% are graduatingfrom college–leaving a gap in the workforce and Research demonstrates that students fromin the economy. At ALearn, we reduce the num- lower–income backgrounds suffer dis-ber of hurdles students have to face so they can proportionately from the lack of school inattend college and graduate. the summer. In fact, 2/3 of the achievement gap between high- and low-income students WHY MATH ? Math is essential: Algebra I is the best predictor of takes place because of the cumulative effect 2/3 high school graduation, and Algebra II is the best of “summer learning loss.” Students from ALGEBRA I predictor of college graduation in the U.S. low-income backgrounds lose ground in of the achievement both math and reading during the summer, gap is due to “summer + ALGEBRA II Many underserved students, especially Latino and and start each year progressively behind. African American, fall behind in math in elementary learning loss” Best Predictor of school and find themselves so far behind by the At ALearn, we counteract this with “summer Graduation end of middle school that they can’t catch up. learning gain” which allows our students not only not to lose during the summer, but to8 At ALearn, we intervene in middle school and provide gain in conceptual skills as well as practical them several years of a boost so they can get back skills in math and mindset, and in the soft on grade level in math and securely on the path to skills of resilience as well. college. 9