Summerbridge

Summerbridge (also Breakthrough) is a collaborative of programs across the United States and in Hong Kong, all functioning independently from one another, that aims to affect positive change in urban schools. It goes about reaching for this goal by offering high-potential, underserved middle school students the opportunity to participate in its rigorous academic enrichment programs throughout the summer and school year. Students make a committment to participate in the program for two to three years (varies by site) and in turn, Summerbridge offers them and their families a range of services from academic enrichment to one-on-one tutoring to high school and college planning. Additionally, all Summerbridge classes are taught by talented high school and college students who are interested in the field of education. Through the teacher development program offered by Summerbridge, these young educators become potential candidates for professional teaching positions after college. Starting in 2003, teaching at Summerbridge and Breakthrough sites was consistently named a Top Ten Internship in America by the Princeton Review and a 1999 Stanford University report stated that "72% went on to work in other educationally related careers or internships after teaching at a Breakthrough site."

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Summerbridge originated in 1978, founded by Lois Loofbourrow at San Francisco University High School. Since then, numerous sites have opened, all in various sized urban areas. The sites are joined together under the umbrella organization, the Breakthrough Collaborative (formerly Summerbridge National), based in San Francisco. Most sites function either through public-private partnerships with an independent educational institution or maintain their own 501(c)3 status.

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Since its inception in 1978, Summerbridge programs around the world have generated thousands of student and teacher alums. In 2003, the Summerbridge/Breakthrough Alumni Network or SBAN was formed through the efforts of alumni. SBAN is based out of Atlanta, but holds annual conferences around the United States.

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As of September, 2005, twenty-four sites were participating members of the Breakthrough Collaborative in the following cities:

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Atlanta, GA;

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Austin, TX;

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Boca Raton (South Florida), FL;

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Cambridge, MA;

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Cincinnati, OH;

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Fort Worth, TX;

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Fort Lauderdale, FL;

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Houston, TX;

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Locust Valley (Long Island), NY;

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Manchester, NH;

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Miami, FL;

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Minneapolis, MN;

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New Haven, CT;

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New Orleans, LA;

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New York, NY;

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Norfolk, VA;

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Philadelphia, PA;

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Providence, RI;

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Sacramento, CA;

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San Francisco, CA;

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San Jose, CA;

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Santa Fe, NM;

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St. Paul, MN;

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Wan Chai, Hong Kong

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