California School District receives grant to help at-risk kids
Funding totals about $1.7 million over 5 years
The California Area School District has received a federal grant that will allow for an after-school program for at-risk elementary students for the next five school years.
Superintendent Dr. Laura Jacob said the district will receive a shade less than $344,000 for each of those five school years, a total of about $1.7 million for a district that operates on an annual budget of about $17 million.
Jacob said this is the fourth time she applied for a Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Cohort 12 grant. The first three times were unsuccessful.
The new program will begin in the fall.
“That’s a significant impact to us,” Jacob said of the grant. “I’m super excited about it. Each time when I would get the rejection, I would read what I needed to do to make it better, so I’m happy we got it.”
The grant, named for former U.S. Rep. Nita M. Lowey, provides federal funding to establish community learning centers that provide academic, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities for students and their families. The programs must be held during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session.
“This grant allows us, as educators, to spend more time with our most at-risk students and hopefully decrease the achievement grant,” Jacob said. “Without additional supports, the gap could just persist year to year and we hope to eliminate that gap for our students with this program. It’s going to allow us to really create a comprehensive after-school program and summer school program for our most at-risk students in K-6. We’re targeting 135 students.”
Jacob said the program will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students will be provided educational support, literacy support as it relates to English language arts and math, art, music and some physical education.
Bus transportation home will be provided for those who need it.
“We’ll also ensure that when the kids go home all the homework is done, so the families can enjoy having them at home,” Jacob said.
The funding also will be used for a summer program, which Jacob said remains in development.
“It will target the individual skills that each student needs,” Jacob said. “We will take what they need for support from the previous year and couple it with the needs of their future school year and assist them. The program will highlight outdoor learning and opportunities to learn in more creative and hands-on ways.”
Jacob is lining up teachers for the program.
The district currently offers an after-school program, which ends at about 4 p.m.
“This is going to allow us to make it much more robust,” Jacob said. “The transportation going home is a significant positive need for students and their families. I think it will have a really positive impact for kids.”