Area schools given $1.2 million in grants

Van Wert independent/submitted information

Western Buckeye Educational Service Center, in partnership with Paulding Exempted Village, Antwerp Local and Lincolnview Local Schools, was awarded two three-year 21st Century Community Learning Center grants from the Ohio Department of Education.

Each grant is fully funded for $200,000 each year for three years, for a grand total of $1.2 million between the four sites over the next three years. Paulding, Oakwood, Antwerp and Lincolnview elementary schools are the 21st Century after-school sites. Each program will focus on increasing math and reading achievement, enhancing positive youth development and encouraging parent and family engagement.

The target population for the program are elementary students in grades K-4 that qualify for free/reduced lunches, are not proficient in reading and math and are referred by teachers and administrators as needing academic, youth development or family support.

This doesn’t mean that other students are not able to participate, but the program’s goal is to attract students that would benefit most from additional programming. There are 36 slots available in each of the after-school programs at the four area elementary schools.

The program hours are Monday through Friday, one hour prior to school, and Monday through Thursday for 2½ hours after school. The morning time is for additional homework help and remediation. After school, the students have a snack, take part in individual and small group instruction and mentoring activities. The tutoring curriculum is SuccessMaker, a web-based math and reading program. The mentoring activities will focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities, Reader’s Theater, career awareness speakers, cooperative learning games, Lego education, kids cooking activities, and field trips. The possibilities are limitless and vary from year to year, based on student interest. Certified classroom teachers staff both the morning and afternoon portions of the program.

Family Literacy Nights are scheduled throughout the school year to provide information and training.  Family nights are an opportunity to engage families in what their children do every day in school.

The schools plan to involve students in the planning of events. Students can decide on the reading/mathematics activities and organize them as stations around the room. The children can volunteer to be “sponsors” of an event by greeting guests as they arrive, preparing and serving donated refreshments and giving out a program for the evening.

Participating schools and the WBESC have brainstormed a few themed events: for example, “Books Come Alive… Robots and Reading”, “Soup and Story Night”, “If you give a child a book…”.  Studies show that when parents and family members are involved in their children’s school activities, children, schools and families all benefit.

Quality after-school programs address both academic and non-academic barriers to learning, while providing additional time with students that is supportive of learning and positive youth development. Program goals are that, by the end of the school year, 80 percent of regularly attending participants will advance one grade level or more in reading and math, as measured by assessment data; 80 percent of students will demonstrate improved success with positive youth development skills, as measured by social, emotional, and behavioral indicators on teacher, parent and student surveys; and 70 percent of parents will report an increased connection with the program and school, as evidenced on parent surveys.

The staff has been working diligently and is looking forward to a collaborative relationship with administration and staff to effectively serve the students at Paulding Exempted Village, Antwerp Local and Lincolnview Local schools.

For more additional information, contact Ashley Shepherd, 21st Century program coordinator, at 419.399.4711 or email ashepherd@wb.noacsc.org.