The Twenty-First Century Community Learning Center Grant makes enrichment programs available at Anne Sullivan, Garfield, and Laura B. Anderson Elementary schools as well as the Elementary Immersion Center at Jane Addams School.
Rebecca Wimmer, who coordinates after-school programs for the district, said it’s an option for families that can’t otherwise afford such programs.
“It also builds in some individual and small group tutoring specifically for kids who may be behind in certain areas and need some additional support for their academics,” Wimmer said.
Wimmer said after-school programs can make a big difference.
“Specifically improves their academics, often improves attendance," Wimmer said. "Kids that attend high quality after-school programs have a higher rate of graduation. So, when we’re looking long term at what’s best for our students, we know after-school programs play a significant role in that.”
Wimmer explained how they selected specific schools.
“The schools that we chose for this grant were either schools that were not being served by a Twenty-First Century Grant yet or had a very small number of students that were being served with a Twenty-First Century Grant,” she said.
Wimmer said interested parents should contact the Kids Inc. office to start the enrollment process.