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<br />UNC researchers: Kindergarten <br />camps bring learning gains <br /> <br />FROM STAFF REPORTS <br /> <br />Nov 2, 2016 <br /> <br />CHAPEL HILL – Students in the Family Success Alliance’s Kindergarten Readiness <br />Camp have shown significant gains in fundamental cognitive and literacy skills. <br />A team of researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill evaluated the program, which addresses <br />the effects of generational poverty at four elementary schools in Orange County <br />Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. <br />“The Kindergarten Readiness Camp had a positive effect on attention and basic literacy <br />skills for all children in English and on language and literacy skills in Spanish,” said <br />Margaret Burchinal, senior research scientist at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child <br />Development Institute (FPG). “And the children entering with the lowest skills benefited <br />the most from the program.” <br />The summer program for low-income children focuses on developing the skills that help <br />students improve their transitions into school. According to Burchinal, these skills can <br />enable children to start school on a more equitable playing field with their more affluent <br />counterparts, helping to close “the achievement gap.” <br />Previous research has shown that children’s first five years of life are critical to overall <br />success in school and beyond. Programs for low-income families that improve family <br />economic security, parental involvement in children’s development, or access to high - <br />quality child care can substantially reduce the achievement gap.