The Illinois Freedom Schools network, created in 2022 from a $17M state grant, is off to a flying start.

The network includes over 40 schools, nonprofits, and other organizations, says Jon Hale, associate professor in the Departments of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction at the College of Education.

“This is historic legislation,” says Hale. “It’s the first time a state legislature has appropriated money for Freedom School programs.”

Growing Out of the Civil Rights Movement

Freedom Schools, with support from the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), offers six-week summer programs and afterschool literacy and cultural enrichment programs to help children in grades K-12 improve reading, language, and interpersonal relationship skills.

The CDF opened its first Freedom School sites in 1995 to address the needs of children who lacked access to high-quality literacy programs during the summer. Freedom Schools were first offered in Champaign in the early 2000s, and this summer marks the third summer in a row the program has been available to youth in the community since the program closed in 2012.

“The CDF grew out of the Civil Rights Movement,” Hale says. “It’s a historic nonprofit started by Marian Wright Edelman, a children’s rights advocate, and the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1965.”

Hale, who serves on a CDF board with the Proctor Institute, has been working with the national office to coordinate discussions with legislators and education leaders in various states to accelerate the growth of Freedom Schools in those states.

“CDF is involved in discussions with Illinois, New Jersey, and California legislators, and some Ohio representatives are interested, too,” he says. “We’re trying to get everyone in the same room.” He has shared the language of the Illinois grant, which he and others at the University of Illinois helped revise, so others can see what legislation looks like that has been passed.

University of Illinois Plays Key Role

“The CDF’s national office sees the University of Illinois as a partner in this,” Hale says. “They see us as one of the few large research universities across the country that are interested in Freedom Schools. So, that’s been great for Illinois to be at the forefront of this solution.”

As for Illinois’ Freedom Schools, the most recent version, held this past summer, was a huge success, Hale says. “In Champaign, we’ve gone from 30 students our first year to 50 our second, to 150 this year,” he says. “Working with community partners Tracy Dace from DREAAM and Cessily Thomas from Champaign Unit 4 schools has been instrumental.”

To help jumpstart Freedom Schools throughout the state, the University of Illinois hosted a statewide Freedom Schools training, both in person and virtual, for those involved in the Freedom Schools across the state. “Around 80 people representing 30 programs showed up for the training,” he says. “The University of Illinois was front and center here, as Cessily Thomas, Alicia Robinson (EPOL graduate), and other CDF trainers created a curriculum, brought in a team of trainers to walk participants through what Freedom Schools are all about, and let people know how we’re working with the Children’s Defense Fund to lead the professional development for Freedom Schools.”

Building the Illinois Freedom Schools network is essential, Hale says, “because Freedom School is an idea that works, it is proven to increase literacy and efficacy. There is also potential for liberatory solutions for communities that have been historically underserved. Through a network, we can offer statewide training for teachers and directors. We can share resources. We can begin to develop knowledge and share information across the state as opposed to working a Freedom School individually.”

Tireless Advocates

Hale continues to advocate for Freedom Schools with Cessily Thomas and Tracy Dace—and Hale works to improve the University of Illinois’ role in helping to grow and sustain that network.

“I’m always advocating for the University of Illinois to be one of the intellectual hubs from which to share information about Freedom Schools and put people in touch with each other,” he says. He is also meeting with legislators in October to drum up further support.

“Right now, the grant is funded through COVID relief funding, so we’re looking for stronger, long-term investments,” he says. “Now is the time when we need sustained and an almost indefinite investment in this idea—because it works and because it’s needed.”

As for the future, Hale hopes for sustained funding and stronger involvement from all stakeholders with Freedom Schools.

“I would hope to see the state increase its support of this historic program and really see more community empowerment,” he says. “Right now, Freedom Schools are so broadly defined. I’d love to see policymakers embrace the principles of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Freedom Struggle to secure funding and a shared Freedom School vision.”