By Sandy Garrett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
When the final school bell rings for the day at Del City Elementary, the day isn’t over for one-third of its students. These kindergarten through 5th grade students participate in PRIDE or “Panther Rally in Developmental Enrichment,” one of Oklahoma’s 75 school programs funded with a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.
This competitive grant program funds community learning centers offering activities before school, after school, and/or during the summer for students in high poverty and low-performing schools.
To qualify, schools and one or more public or private community partners apply with detailed plans for: tutoring, homework help, core subject and elective activities, parental involvement and family literacy supports, drug and violence prevention programs, and physical education and wellness activities.
In June, the State Department of Education awarded 13 new, five-year grants totaling $2.4 million to these public school districts:
- Watts in Adair County
- Hulbert in Cherokee County
- Cottonwood in Coal County
- Walters in Cotton County
- Stigler and Whitefield in Haskell County
- Kingfisher in Kingfisher County
- Arkoma in LeFlore County
- Prague in Lincoln County
- Idabel in McCurtain County
- Checotah in McIntosh County
- Henryetta in Okmulgee County
- Caney Valley in Washington County
- The Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City was also funded to provide opportunities at Douglass Middle and High School.
The U.S. Department of Education started the 21st Century program in 1998, and under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 the program was expanded to include partnerships with public and private education and youth-serving organizations. Oklahoma has participated since 2003.
Students, who participate in after-school programs do better in school, improve their social skills and are healthier. They also have a better attitude toward school and have higher education goals, according to the Harvard Family Research project.
Ruth Kizer, Del City Elementary’s principal, says her school has seen the highest gains in test scores in the district, and has fewer discipline and truancy problems. Students in her school’s PRIDE program are motivated to learn and enjoy an after-school snack before working on homework, getting help from a tutor or playing outside. Students then participate in a variety of fun, learning activities such as: math, poetry, reading, piano, art, archery and even drama. PRIDE emphasizes the arts and hands-on activities.
Del City also offers a 21st Century summer program in June with free breakfast and lunch. This past summer, students visited a local farm to learn more about farming and to pick fruits and vegetables.
The 21st Century Community Learning Center programs are providing additional learning time and extra attention to students—both very much needed in these trying economic times—and we look forward to working with the new recipients!
For additional information, call (405) 522-6225, or visit the State Department of Education’s Web site, <www.sde.state.ok.us>.
