Brooklyn, NY, December 29, 2006 -- A recently completed two-year study by The Institute for Research and Professional Development (IRPD) found that a unique school-based summer camp run by Oasis Children's Services dramatically improved students' performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. The research was based primarily on 2005 New York Department of Education's Division of Assessment and Accountability test scores, and incorporated an analysis of children's school records, surveys, formal interviews and focus groups.

The IRPD conducted research at two Oasis Summer Programs in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY from 2004 to 2005. During that period:

• The percentage of program participants scoring at or above expectancy (Levels 3 and 4) on ELA and Mathematics standardized tests increased by 18.9% and 8.4%, respectively.
• Overall, 67.5% of children who participated in Oasis scored at or above expectancy (Level 3 and 4) on the ELA tests compared to 45.4% of children in the local school district, District 23..
• Math scores showed similar results with 63.1% of children who participated in Oasis scoring at or above expectancy compared to 44.1% of the children in the surrounding community.

"There is a solid and growing body of research suggesting that one of the main culprits responsible for the persistent underperformance of low-income children is summer break," said Adam Weiss, Oasis' Founder and CEO. "Poor children fall behind during the summer - by as much as three months of grade-level proficiency -- because they are less likely to be engaged in stimulating activities that exercise their cognitive skills and help them retain information they have learned in the classroom."

Combining experiential education with arts, recreation and athletics, Oasis runs school-based programs that weave academic enrichment into environments that have all the physical, cultural and philosophical characteristics of traditional summer camp. Oasis' community-oriented approach to youth development also targets a wide range of outcomes for young people, enhancing social competence and social understanding, preventing teen violence, drug use and teen pregnancy, and supporting the educational process in the classroom.

"Summer is a missed opportunity," said Weiss. "High-quality summer programs not only reduce summer learning loss, they foster other kinds of youth development such as positive identity, social competencies, positive values and a lifelong commitment to learning. These qualities are critical to children's long term success."

To see the complete performance evaluation, please contact Kate Barbera at kbarbera@limeprpromo.com/ (212) 337-4735.

_{Oasis Children's Services is a for-profit company that collaborates with schools, youthservice organizations and public agencies throughout the New York metropolitan area to create outstanding summer enrichment programs for children and families. Hallmarks of Oasis programs include a community-oriented, holistic approach to youth development, innovative enrichment activities, extremely low ratios of children to adults and highly trained staff. Oasis programs allow students to progress and improve academically while developing social skills and self-confidence in a motivating and challenging environment. www.oasischildren.com}