About our Youth Programs  
Most of our students enter our program scoring below the 20th percentile in standardized reading tests administered by the SFUSD, and are reading one or two grade levels below expected.

After completing our after school program the majority of children have advanced at least two grade levels in reading abilities, with some children showing improvements of three and four grade levels.

Students are pre- and post-assessed so that achievement can be measured. Some students have advanced 3 academic years during the course of the seven-month tutorial, and summer program participants have advanced an entire grade level after the five-week intensive instructional program. We also use surveys of parents, SFUSD teachers and principals, and our instructors to prepare a program evaluation.

All educational staff receive in-service training in subjects such as teaching literature, remedial education, and classroom management.

The Laboratory for Individual Services (“The Lab”)  top^
The Lab is a special project of Mission Learning Center in partnership with San Francisco State University. Programs are tailored for students who are reading and writing more than a year below grade level, including those identified with or being evaluated for learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Students receive 1:1 individualized instruction based on detailed assessments. The volunteer instructors are advanced graduate students in teacher credential and/or Master of Arts in education programs. Students flourish with specialized instruction in reading and writing, and the teachers deepen their skills through individualized coaching from Dr. Alexis Filippini and other literacy experts on our advisory board.

This pilot program is supported by volunteers and donations. For more information about volunteering or enrolling your student, please contact thelab@mlcsf.org.

After School Youth Literacy Programs  top^
Our after school reading program is taught at two San Francisco sites: 1) Centro del Pueblo and 2) Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School.

The MLC After School Program at Centro del Pueblo (core program) serves 1st through 5th grade students from schools throughout the Mission who are reading below grade level. All families qualify as low-income. Two groups of 20 children attend two days per week of the program, Monday through Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m, at no cost.

The Mission Learning Center After School Program at L.R. Flynn Elementary is offered as a part of an after school enrichment initiative, sponsored by the San Francisco Unified School District's ExCel After School Programs and the San Francisco Department of Children Youth and their Families. MLC runs a comprehensive program that includes our high quality literacy program as well as athletic and creative enrichment. 100 K-5 Flynn Elementary students attend Monday through Friday from 2:40 to 5:30 pm, at no cost.

Summer Literacy Camp  top^
The Mission Learning Center Summer Literacy Camp is a partnership with our swashbuckling friends at 826 Valencia. In recent years we have grown our summer program from 40 students to more than 60. Students enjoy engaging literacy instruction at MLC and 826, as well as structured recreation at a neighborhood park. The program is six weeks long, Monday-Friday 9:30-4:30.

About our Youth Programs  top^
Most of our students enter our program scoring below the 20th percentile in standardized reading tests administered by the SFUSD, and are reading one or two grade levels below expected.

After completing our after school program the majority of children have advanced at least two grade levels in reading abilities, with some children showing improvements of three and four grade levels.

Students are pre- and post-assessed so that achievement can be measured. Some students have advanced 3 academic years during the course of the seven-month tutorial, and summer program participants have advanced an entire grade level after the five-week intensive instructional program. We also use surveys of parents, SFUSD teachers and principals, and our instructors to prepare a program evaluation.

All educational staff receive in-service training in subjects such as teaching literature, remedial education, and classroom management.