The Freedom Schools program is grounded in the following set of core beliefs that place children at the center of the education experience:

• All children are capable of learning and achieving at high standards.
• Culture and community conditions influence child learning.
• Appreciation and knowledge of one’s culture engenders self worth and the ability to live in community with others.
• Education, teachers, and mentors are transformative agents.
• Literacy is essential to personal empowerment and civic responsibility.
• Effective teaching requires planning, creativity, and implementation, with reflection and processing.
• Learning communities that offer a sense of safety, love, caring, and personal power are needed for transformative education.
• Classroom discipline and management are integral parts of instructional practice.
• Parents are crucial partners in children’s learning and need supports to become better parents.
• As citizens, children and adults have the power to make a difference in their communities and be advocates for themselves.