SF Rec & Park's Tennis & Learning Center Program
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Tennis & Learning Center (TLC) is an out-of-school-time program that promotes academic achievement, health and wellness, and social-emotional development through the sport of tennis.
Since 2014, TLC has served elementary school children in four of San Francisco’s most high-need communities: Western Addition, Chinatown, the Portola, and Bayview Hunters Point.
In March 2021, the TLC program welcomed its first middle school students at the Lisa + Douglas Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park. Students receive advanced academic support in the Koret Teaching & Learning Center classroom, work on their tennis skills on the brand new courts, and engage in mindfulness activities in the Koret Garden.
TLC combats increasing disparities for San Francisco’s underserved communities by providing resources and opportunities not otherwise readily available. At the heart of TLC is the belief that providing youth with access to educational support systems and positive relationships will promote healthy youth development and improve their long-term outcomes.
Why Sloane Stephens loves TLC
Vision & Goals
The goals of TLC are to give students the skills and support they need to graduate from high school and plan for a positive future; develop the whole child by teaching non-cognitive skills and values that help children lead positive, productive and fulfilling lives; and support the parent-child relationship by providing parents with the tools they need to become effective advocates and resources for their children. At the heart of TLC is the belief that providing youth with access to positive relationships and consistent educational support systems will promote healthy youth development and improve their long-term outcomes.
Partnership
TLC currently operates in four low-income San Francisco communities, each partnering with an underperforming SFUSD elementary school:
Site | Partner School | Population Served | Ages Served | # Participants |
Palega Recreation Center | Hillcrest | Excelsior | 5-11 | 25 |
Hamilton Recreation Center | Rosa Parks | Western Addition | 5-11 | 25 |
Betty Ann Ong Recreation Center | Gordan Lau | Chinatown | 5-11 | 25 |
Youngblood Coleman | Carver | Bayview/Hunters Point | 5-11 | 25 |
Golden Gate Park Tennis Center (2020) | All Above | All Above | 11-14+ | 60+ |
Total Served | 160+ |
Participant Demographics 2018-19 (3 sites)
Primary Language
67% speak languages other than English
|
Race & Ethnicity
92% come from multi-ethnic communities
|
Grade
K- 13 1- 10 2- 16 3- 17 4- 18 5- 7 81 - Total |
Participants
48 – Male 33 – Female 81 – Total |
Outcomes
Each participant receives 10 hours of personalized homework help per week, with additional tutoring support available 3 days per week | |
Each participant receives 5 hours of tennis instruction per week | |
82% have improved by at least one reading level |
VIDEO: TLC and the Campaign for Golden Gate Park Tennis Center
More about TLC
For more information about TLC, contact Channing Hale at channing.hale@sfgov.org