Resources
Research and plain-language briefs on the elementary achievement gap, out-of-school time, and what actually helps children in Philadelphia catch up.
Brief · 2026
Achievement gap
Philadelphia elementary students sit far below high-performing suburban districts on state assessments, and the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are where the difference gets made. What the data says about why we target 2nd through 5th grade.
We publish what we learn as we build: what works in a puzzle lab, what the research says about out-of-school-time programming, and what Philadelphia families are actually asking for. If there is something you want us to dig into, tell us.