COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS RECEIVE MORE THAN $7 MILLION
FOR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Forty-seven 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants totaling more than $7 million have been awarded to schools, churches and community organizations statewide.
The federally-funded grants are authorized by the No Child Left Behind law and are awarded through a competitive process. A community-learning center offers academic, artistic and cultural enrichment for students and their families when school is not in session (before school, after school, during holidays, or during the summer recess).
The approved grants provide a wide range of researched-based programs to serve students, particularly those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools in both rural and urban communities. The grants include language arts, mathematics, science, technology, health and safety activities as well as other educational projects. Families will be provided with various literacy programs as part of a holistic approach to developing and supporting each child.
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said extended learning can be helpful to many children. He believes it enhances the lessons that teachers provide during the traditional school day.
“Students who are struggling in class can get a real academic boost in a well-run after-school setting,” Rex said. South Carolina’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program currently supports 100 projects at 181 sites serving approximately 15,000 students. Grant-funded projects include remedial education, tutoring, mentoring, limited-English proficiency programs, counseling, character education, leadership skills training, arts and recreational initiatives, career development and drug and violence prevention programs.
The 21st Century grants were initiated 10 years ago. At that time, only school districts were eligible for funding. Grants are now available for other public and private applicants, including faith-based organizations. The 2008-09 recipients include 27 school districts, one private school, 11 community-based organizations, five faith-based organizations, one college/university and two state correctional facilities. The funded centers will serve students from 74 schools in 36 school districts.
Partnerships consisting of two organizations – or a consortium of partners – are eligible to apply for 21st Century grants. New partnerships and school district consortia receive funding priorities.
2008-2009 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Recipients
Grantee, District(s) Served, Amount
Anderson School District Two - Anderson 2 - $200,000
Anderson School District Two - Anderson 2 - $200,000
Beaufort County School District - Beaufort - $200,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate - Spartanburg 6 & Cherokee - $299,700
Bridge of Hope - Charleston District #4 - $200,000
CA Johnson Preparatory Academy - Richland 1 - $200,000
Charleston County School District - Charleston District #20 - $200,000
Charleston County School District - Charleston District #4 - $150,000
Clemson University - Anderson 1 - $199,970
Colleton Middle School - Colleton - $200,000
Communities in Schools of Chester - Chester - $120,000
Communities in Schools of Greenville - Greenville - $59,875
Creek Bridge High School - Marion 7 - $200,000
Dorchester School District Two - Dorchester 2 - $147,750
Edisto High School - Orangeburg 4 - $150,000
Florence School District One - Florence 1 - $200,000
Horry County School District - Horry - $200,000
I Can Kids - Williamsburg - $180,000
Kershaw County School District - Kershaw - $137,203
Lancaster County School District - Lancaster - $99,618
Laurens School District Fifty-five - Laurens 55 - $200,000
Lexington School District One - Lexington 1 - $150,000
Lexington School District One - Lexington 1 - $90,000
Lexington School District Five - Lexington 5 - $65,292
Lexington School District Five - Lexington 5 - $62,501
Littlejohn Community Center - Pickens - $200,000
M.K., Incorporated - Georgetown - $187,500
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church - Bamberg 1 - $120,172
Oconee County School District - Oconee - $134,757
Old Macedonia Church - Edgefield - $200,000
Orangeburg Area Boys and Girls Club - Orangeburg 3 & 4 - $300,000
Orangeburg School District Five - Orangeburg 5 - $200,000
Pickens County School District - Pickens - $199,571
Project Excellence, Incorporated - Sumter 2 - $199,954
Resurrected Treasure Ministries - Greenville - $90,000
Richland School District One - Richland 1 - $200,000
Richland School District Two - Richland 2 - $60,000
Salem Academy - Lexington 5 - $174,824
Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club - Sumter 2 & Clarendon 1 - $255,000
South Carolina Department of Corrections - Palmetto United District - $52,500
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice - DJJ School District - $90,000
Spartanburg Christian Discipleship Center - Spartanburg 6 - $150,000
Sumter School District Two - Sumter 2 - $187,500
Sumter School District Seventeen - Sumter 17 - $200,000
The Village Ministry of Spartanburg - Spartanburg 7 - $150,000
W. M. Anderson Primary School - Williamsburg - $159,264
Wings For Kids - Charleston District #4 - $198,718