Wilmington, Del. – January 13, 2003 Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Secretary of Education Valerie A. Woodruff today announced the names of six grantees who have been chosen to receive $1.4 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education to establish learning centers under the 21^st Century Community Learning Center Program.

The Capital, Colonial and Lake Forest School Districts as well as the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, the Boys and Girls Club of Western Sussex and the Latin American Community Center in Wilmington were chosen from among twenty-two applicants to receive funding beginning this year. Over the next five years, the six grantees will receive a combined total of more than $6.4 million.

The 21^st Century Community Learning Center Program is a key component of the No Child Left Behind Act and is an opportunity for students and their families to continue to learn new skills and discover new abilities before or after the school day has ended. The community centers will provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities to high poverty children in core academic subjects including reading and mathematics, and will also include tutorial services, youth development activities, drug and violence intervention programs, technology education programs, and art, music and recreation programs. These activities will reinforce and complement the regular academic programs of the schools attended by the students served. Literacy and related educational development services will also be offered to families of participating students.

“These six grantees are excellent examples of collaboration between schools, school districts, and community-based agencies,” said Governor Minner. “The combined strengths and resources of these partners will greatly enhance educational opportunities available to children and their families.” Added the Governor, “I am proud of the accomplishments of today’s grantees and know they will continue to work diligently to provide educational services to our children, their families and members of the community.”

Secretary of Education Woodruff agreed. “The Department of Education is very pleased that these funds will support quality out-of school programming for students—a need that has been clearly identified by parents and community members.” Added Woodruff, “These community-based learning centers will increase time children have for learning and will involve them in meaningful experiences by capitalizing on the resources of both schools and community organizations. I expect these newly funded 21^st CCLC programs to become models of out-of-school programs for other school/community partnerships throughout Delaware.”

The six grantees and their partners, along with a synopsis of how the funding will be used, are as follows:

Latin American Community Center – $300,000
Partners – Red Clay Consolidated School District, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League This project will provide after-school tutoring and homework help, academic enrichment, and summer enrichment to approximately 200 Latin American immigrant children in grades 2-5 who attend Highlands, Baltz, Richardson Park, and Lewis Elementary Schools. Programs will be housed at the Latin American Community Center and Richardson Park Elementary School.

Colonial School District – $300,000
Partners – Rose Hill Community Center, Young Life Ministries The Student And Family Enrichment (SAFE) Pathways program will provide out-of-school programming for approximately 250 students in grades K-12 who attend Martin Luther King, Jr. and McCullough Elementary Schools, New Castle and George Read Middle Schools, William Penn High School, and the ACE Alternative Program. The program will target students and families in the neighborhood of Riverside and the New Castle community of greater Rose Hill. The program sites are Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School and the Rose Hill Community Center.

Capital School District – $125,052
Partners – City of Dover’s Delaware Prevention Network (DPN), Boys and Girls Club of Manchester Square, Delaware Parents Association This program will provide approximately 55 students at Towne Point Elementary School with academic support and enrichment activities through after-school and summer programs. An additional 25 students will receive community-based academic support through the Boys and Girls Club at the Manchester Square Community Center.

Lake Forest School District – $335,140
Partners – Greater Milford Boys and Girls Club, Kidz Kottage Inc., Delaware Cooperative Extension, Delaware State Housing Authority This program will provide before-school, after-school and summer enrichment programs to approximately 300 students attending Lake Forest North and Lake Forest South Elementary Schools. Proposed sites for the program are Lake Forest North Elementary, Lake Forest South Elementary, Kidz Kottage, and Clarks Corner (Delaware State Housing Authority).

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension – $300,000
Partners – Woodbridge School District, YMCA of Delaware Resource Center This project will provide after-school and summer programs for approximately 150 students at Woodbridge Elementary and Woodbridge Middle Schools.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Sussex – $125,000
Partners – Laurel School District, HOSTS Learning, Corps Assistance Team Program, Junior Achievement, University of Delaware VISTA Program This project will provide before-school, after-school, and summer programs for approximately 55 low-achieving students in Dunbar Elementary, North Laurel Elementary, and Laurel Intermediate Schools. The program will be housed at the Laurel site of the Western Sussex Boys and Girls Clubs.

Maria Matos, Executive Director for the Latin American Community Center was elated when she learned her center was one of six grantees selected. “This grant is a tremendous shot in the arm for the educational services our center offers to our Latino youth.” Added Matos, “This generous grant will help our students prepare for their future, and will be an investment that will pay dividends in the long run.”

Each grantee will receive the amount listed above each year for the first three years. In the fourth and fifth year of the grant, funding will be reduced as the programs become self-sustained.