TORONTO FOUNDATION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
JUMP Math and Beyond 3:30 Program Partner to Provide Math Support to Children in Toronto's Priority Neighbourhoods

JUMP Math, in partnership with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success' (TFSS) beyond 3:30 after-school program, is pleased to announce the launch of a new math program to support students with learning recovery in Priority Neighbourhoods across Toronto.

Thanks to funding from TD Bank Group and an anonymous foundation over the next three years, what began as a small pilot for elementary school children in 2021, is now being expanded. The program will offer small-group and one-on-one math support to more than 1,200 Grades 3-8 children, who are experiencing learning loss due to COVID-related school disruptions.

"We recognize that the pandemic has contributed to learning loss for many students, though it has not been experienced equally," said Alicia Rose, Senior Manager, Strategy and Social Impact, Global Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank Group. "We are excited to collaborate with Jump Math and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success to increase access to learning opportunities that can help students thrive. We believe supporting initiatives, such as this one, helps elementary students set the foundation for success in school and in their lives." 

The successful pilot demonstrated dramatic improvements in learning within a very short period. After just a few months of the program, testing of participating children revealed an up to 10 percent increase in math understanding and a trend in self-identifying as being "good in math," "liking math" and "liking to have a job where they do math".

"We saw the beyond 3:30 JUMP Math pilot really have an impact on participants in our program," said Catherine Parsonage, Executive Director & CEO, TFSS. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with JUMP Math to help children develop their math skills, and gain confidence in their abilities, which is so critical for their future success."

JUMP Math will support the math component of the beyond 3:30 program with Grades 3-8 children at 18 schools across Toronto. JUMP Math is working with TFSS staff to provide custom math resources, training and support to ensure that program participants gain the essential fundamental math confidence and skills that will support their success throughout life. 

"As a charitable organization dedicated to advancing social justice through our work helping every child to excel at math, we are thrilled to be partnering with beyond 3:30 to deliver a program that will help address inequities in math education for these students," said Ken Aucoin, CEO, JUMP Math. "Students in these priority communities have been at a particular disadvantage during remote learning due to inadequate access to the support, internet and technology tools that more affluent communities enjoy."

JUMP Math programming is currently being delivered by beyond 3:30 across Toronto. Resources are also being streamed online, so that they can be accessed remotely if participants are unable to attend in-person due to COVID-19. The program, which began in January, runs every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of June. To learn more, visit www.tfss.ca.