Understanding the Constructive Developmental Framework (CDF) in Education

The Constructive Developmental Framework (CDF) is a comprehensive theory that combines developmental psychology with constructive learning theories. It offers valuable insights into the lifelong journey of an individual's capacity to make meaning. This framework has found applications in various educational settings, particularly in health professions, focusing on the development of learners' meaning-making capacities. It also explores how educators can effectively support learners at different stages of development.

Core Principles of the CDF

At the heart of the CDF lie five distinct stages of development, known as Orders of Consciousness. Individuals progress through these stages as they grow and mature, with each stage representing a qualitatively different way of organizing experiences and making sense of the world.

CDF Freedom Schools: A Practical Application

To illustrate the application of CDF principles in education, it's helpful to examine programs like the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools. These schools embody the CDF's mission by fostering environments that encourage children and young adults to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, schools, communities, nation, and the world. This is achieved through hope, education, and action.

History and Impact

Rooted in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964, which aimed to provide Black children and youth with enriching educational experiences that were absent in segregated public schools, CDF Freedom Schools have touched the lives of over 70,000 children and families since 1995. More than 7,000 college students and 1,500 adults have been trained to deliver this approach to child empowerment.

Key Components of CDF Freedom Schools

CDF Freedom Schools offer safe and restorative learning spaces where children are surrounded by caring adults from their community. These adults share their enthusiasm for learning and reading, serving as authentic mentors. The programs are primarily staffed by college-age young adults who are committed to making life better for children. They receive training coordinated by the CDF Freedom Schools national office, preparing them to provide an enriching experience for the children they serve and to be part of a future generation of servant leaders. The Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute promotes principles of servant leadership by fostering an understanding of the connection between effective programs and public policy and the importance of community development, political advocacy, and coalition building.

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Holistic Development

In the CDF Freedom Schools program, children are engaged in activities that develop their minds and bodies, and nurture their spirits. They receive nutritious meals and snacks. Each day begins with "Harambee!", a self- and group-affirming celebration and preparation for the work ahead. Children, parents, and staff are introduced to a collection of books that reflect their own images and are part of an integrated reading curriculum where books, activities, field trips, and games all relate to and reinforce each other. The servant leader interns use this curriculum to teach the children conflict resolution and critical thinking skills, encourage them to participate in art and athletic activities, engage them in community service and social action projects, and inspire them to explore the problems facing their communities and become active in working toward solutions.

Family and Community Engagement

Recognizing that parents and family members are the most important partners in their children's education, the CDF Freedom Schools program offers them the support and skills they need to help their children succeed. Caregivers are required to demonstrate their commitment to the program by becoming actively involved in the daily CDF Freedom Schools activities. Family members also participate in weekly workshops where they learn about children's educational and social development and gain the necessary skills to empower them to help their children.

Addressing Trauma and Promoting Well-being

CDF Freedom Schools programs serving distressed children and families are encouraged to incorporate therapeutic interventions and health and mental health services. Youths whose lives have been affected by crises receive consistent, daily service to help them better understand themselves, their situations, and their potential.

Combating Summer Learning Loss

Over the summer, children are at risk of losing an average of 2.5 months of reading progress made during the prior school year. The pandemic worsened these gaps, with the Texas Education Agency estimating that all students lost an additional 3.2 months of academic progress in 2020 alone. Virtual schooling helped protect students, teachers, and communities alike during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, but thousands of students still lost caretakers, particularly students of color. This kind of traumatic loss inevitably impacts every part of a child’s life, including their academics. Here in Texas, over 20% of public school children are bilingual and 60.2% of enrolled students are economically disadvantaged , meaning that Texas students may be more susceptible to summer learning loss and setbacks in reading. Reading is a foundational skill that is necessary to grasp other subjects, be it math, history, or science, which makes literacy crucial to educational outcomes in the future. Learning loss can be detrimental to the trajectory of children’s education, sometimes causing a persistent gap in a child’s ability to read at grade level and impacting their ability to thrive in school. Taking books off the shelves in schools and in public libraries exacerbates reading setbacks, limiting students’ ability to read while in school as well as over the summer. Programs like Freedom Schools value students' stories, inspire their curiosity, and encourage their civic participation.

Civic Engagement and Social Action

Freedom Schools also increase the likelihood that students and their parents participate in civic engagement in their community. Freedom Schools’ annual National Day of Social Action (NDSA) teaches students about advocacy, self-empowerment, and navigating government institutions. This year’s NDSA, held on July 19th, will highlight how gun violence affects young people in our country and how we must remedy this issue to provide the future America’s youth deserve. These are the kinds of supports that Texas students need to succeed in the classroom and as citizens.

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HOPE Village CDF Freedom Schools: An Example

On Monday, July 10th, elementary students were welcomed for the second summer of the HOPE Village Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® program; Focus: HOPE’s free 6-week summer education program for students in grades K-5. The CDF Freedom Schools program begins each morning with Harambee, a Swahili word meaning, “let’s pull together.” Harambee calls for everyone in the room, including scholars, staff, parents and community members, to celebrate themselves and each other in song. The morning curriculum focuses heavily on reading comprehension, using multicultural books and culturally relevant activities. The afternoons mix in creative activities with STEM related subjects to make it fun for our scholars. Along with learning, scholars will be served nutritious meals and snacks each day and will attend weekly fieldtrips. "It truly takes a village to raise a child," said Brittney Robinson, Family Engagement Coordinator for the HOPE Village CDF Freedom Schools program and former Detroit resident. A part of that village is our Servant Leader interns, the classroom instructors who work most closely with students, are college students or recent college graduates who are committed to making life better for children. Their preparation included a rigorous week of training at CDF’s Ella Baker Child Policy Institute in Knoxville, Tennessee. The team, led by Dr. Stephanie Moore, also includes AmeriCorps VISTA and VISTA Summer Associates, Grow Detroit Young Talent youth interns, Site Coordinators, and a Change Agent Intern from the Center for Social Impact at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. "I first got involved with the CDF Freedom Schools® program as an intern in the National Office in Washington, D.C. during the summer of 2012. Since then, I have been in love with this program and learning model," said Paige Watkins, Site Coordinator for the HOPE Village CDF Freedom Schools’ new site at Joy Preparatory Academy . "I have worked as a volunteer at CDF National Training and as a Servant Leader Intern for the past five years. It’s especially special for me because as a high school student, I participated in the beginning years of the Excel Photography Program here at Focus: HOPE. Thanks again to all of our supporters, donors, scholars and parents.

Applications in Health Professional Education

The CDF has been applied in various health professional educational settings, focusing on the development of learners' meaning-making capacities, as well as the ways in which educators can support learners at different stages of development.

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