Area communities receive funding for after-school programs

CLC grants fund programs aimed at improving academics, social skills

MADISON, Wis. — Students in some south-central Wisconsin communities will get to participate in programming outside of the school day thanks to funding from a federal grant, according to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Fifty-five sites around Wisconsin received funding through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to improve math and reading skills, run academic enrichment programs, and develop students’ athletic and social skills, officials said.

“Community Learning Centers have a proven track record of supporting students and families and boosting academic achievement,” State Superintendent Tony Evers said in the release. “Funding is targeted to schools with higher socioeconomic needs to help us close achievement gaps so all students are on track to graduate college and career ready.”

Sites receiving grants were selected from 122 applicants for competitive funding, officials said. Thirteen of the sites are first-time CLC grant recipients. The second- and third-year cycle grant recipients had previously been awarded five years’ worth of funding, and successfully competed for an additional five years of funding.

The 55 locations that received CLC funding will share $3.84 million for grant activities for five years and join the existing 189 continuing after-school program sites sharing a total of $16.4 million, according to the release.

CLCs are designed to improve student achievement, attendance and behavior by providing enriching activities for youth during out-of-school hours, officials said. Recipients can use funds to support before- and after-school, weekend and summer activities.

Area communities receiving CLC funding:

New grants – $80,000

Beloit School District – Cunningham Intermediate School
BMS United Methodist Church – Boscobel Elementary School
Janesville School District – Jefferson Elementary School Madison Metropolitan School District – Orchard Ridge Elementary

Second cycle grants – $75,000

Reedsburg School District – Westside Elementary School

Third cycle grants – $50,000

Adams-Friendship Area School District – Adams-Friendship Elementary School

During the 2012-13 school year 39,794 students were served throughout the state by CLC grant-funded programs, according to the release. Of those served, 73 percent demonstrated significant improvement in math, reading or both.