CDF Freedom Schools

CDF Freedom Schools offers four levels of programming organized by the most recent grade each enrolled scholar has completed. The program includes Level I for K–2nd grade, Level II for 3rd–5th grade, Level III for 6th–8th grade, and Level IV for 9th–12th grade. CDF Freedom Schools programs fill up fast, so families are encouraged not to wait until summer to enroll a child.

• Ages: 5–17 years old

For more than 50 years, the work behind CDF Freedom Schools has expanded beyond serving children to include young people as they mature into adulthood. The program’s mission is to build community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. Its history is rooted in the Civil Rights and Women’s movements.

CDF Freedom Schools works alongside and amplifies the power of youth and families through advocacy, community organizing, direct service, and public policy. The program works at the intersection of well-being and racial justice for children and youth. It focuses on training the next generation of leaders in response to the call to dismantle racist policies and overcome systemic inequities for the nation’s children and youth.

Last updated May 6, 2026.