Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is a free, full-day, five-week academic program providing arts-integrated literacy and math instruction to Baltimore City. Historically, we have served students ranging from Pre-K – 6th-grade in the public school system. In SALA, professional teaching artists and certified teachers co-design and co-teach traditional academic lessons while utilizing the arts as vessels. This model creates innovative and collaborative learning experiences both for the educators and their students. In SALA, children engage with challenging math and literacy content while utilizing the arts to obtain and demonstrate mastery of district standards in both ELA and Math. SALA's curriculum aligns with BCPSS and Maryland State standards to prevent summer learning loss, and afford our students an opportunity to be better prepared to thrive in the following school year. In 2025, the program will be offered at 6 locations (apart from Henderson-Hopkins and Pimlico), reaching over 1,200 students. All SALA teachers are certified, with most being employed by City Schools during the school year. Staff undergo over 30 hours of professional development, including training on co-planning, curricula, arts integration, and race equity. A4L also works with City Schools main offices and host-site Principals to improve enrollment processes, ensuring earlier registration and collecting crucial student information (attendance, math and literacy assessments, and staff, family, and student surveys). The program aims to increase accessibility across Baltimore, improve student engagement, and provide high-quality educational experiences through arts-integrated academic instruction. SALA aims to achieve significant academic growth. In 2025, program goals include: 75% of students will maintain or improve math performance 75% of students will maintain or improve literacy performance 70% of students will attend 75% of program days Targets align with 2024, where 74.6% of students met math goals and 74.7% met literacy goals. The program creates a supportive environment to all students using restorative practices, daily relationship-building activities, and core values that emphasize safety, cultural appreciation, and identity, while ensuring students feel valued, known, loved, and supported. In the afternoon, students also engage in Arts Explorations and Majors, which are opportunities to experience a variety of art forms throughout the program. These experiences build confidence, creativity, and skills beyond traditional academics, culminating in performances open to students’ families and community, as well as student portfolios that document everyone’s artistic development through the summer. Additionally, there is also time dedicated to Social-Emotional Learning (SQUAD!), journaling and reflection (Journey Books), and fitness and movement (Fitness and Fun, led by certified PE teachers), ensuring that SALA is a well-rounded academic and enrichment program completely free of charge for our Baltimore City families.
