Allentown, PA (January 22, 2016) The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) recently announced the awarding of 50 new 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants, and the Allentown School District is recipient of a $399,000/year grant (renewable for three years). In addition, Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley (CISLV) received $388,553/year grant (renewable for three years) that is designated for ASD high school and middle school programs.
“This grant funding will allow us to provide high quality educational support programs focused on the academic success and career readiness of our secondary students,” states Kimberly Walck, Director of Grants and Development. “The fact that we have the added support of the Communities In Schools grant to focus on our extended learning opportunities is a real boost for ASD. We are truly grateful to CISLV for the commitment to our students,” Walck adds.
Over the three years, both grants will provide the District with approximately $2.4 million in funding for college and career efforts to prepare students for 21st century jobs. This funding will support a 21st Century Cohort 8 program for Dieruff and William Allen High Schools, and Harrison-Morton, Raub and Trexler Middle Schools. South Mountain Middle School is currently benefiting from a 21st Century Grant, Cohort 7, which runs through 2017.
Cohort 8 funds will be utilized to offer extended learning programs such as:
- Credit Recovery
- Family and Community Education through workshops open to the community
- Homework Help/Assistance Programs
- STEM Enrichment Programs and Activities
- Summer Programs
- Tutoring
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers will offer these programs four days a week. Five hundred and thirty-two students will be able to participate in the 21st CCLC. Students will be recommended to the program by a teacher, counselor, administrator, parent, guardian, or caregiver.
“In addition to reaching directly to hundreds of our students, our goal is to build sustainability for these programs with community partners so that the District can continue these initiatives long after the grant funding ends,” explains Walck.
According to PDE, 107 applications were reviewed to select the final 50 grant recipients. Grants were awarded to 12 school districts, 17 community-based organizations, 8 charter schools, 5 intermediate units, 4 faith-based organizations, and 4 institutions of higher education and museums.
The 21st CCLC program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 107-110) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to provide federal funding for the establishment of community learning centers that provide academic, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities for children. Funds are intended to provide students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools with additional services to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects; to offer students a broad array of activities that can complement their regular academic programs, and to offer literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
About Allentown School District
ASD serves more than 16,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the City of Allentown, PA. The Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. A shared vision of the community, parents, guardians, staff and faculty focuses on “Empowering Students for Life,” providing ASD students with the skills and academics they need to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or technical focus. ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. Allentown School District employs approximately 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators. The District, founded in 1866 and celebrating its Sesquicentennial throughout 2015-2016, serves students from 43 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent of households qualifying as low income. ASD is committed to providing safe learning environments in which all students have equal access to education programs and resources.
Information Provided By:
Kimberly Golden Benner
Director of Communications
Allentown School District
