Groups receive learning grantsFunds used to pay for enrichment programs By Diette Courrégé (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Some Lowcountry schools will be able to offer more than just classes this coming year because of grants awarded Monday by the state Department of Education. Four Charleston and Dorchester groups were among 47 schools, churches or community organizations statewide to receive 21st Century Community Learning Center grants worth more than $7 million. Community learning centers offer academic, artistic and cultural enrichment for students and their families before and after school and during holidays. The awards are funded through the federal No Child Left Behind law. The grants will provide research-based programs in areas such as language arts, math, science, technology, health and safety for high-poverty students and low-performing schools. Literacy programs also will be offered to families. The current program includes 100 projects at 181 sites serving about 15,000 students. In the Lowcountry, Bridge of Hope in North Charleston received $200,000, and Wings for Kids received $198,718. The Charleston County School District received $200,000 to help downtown schools and $150,000 for North Charleston schools, and Dorchester School District 2 received $147,750. Bridge of Hope will use its grant to expand the number of children at Dunston Elementary's after-school program from 65 to 120 and to begin a bi-weekly Saturday program, executive director Latanya Allen said. The programs will be free to the mostly low-income students who attend the North Charleston school. Many of the children the program serves are behind their peers, and this gives them the extra academic, social and emotional help they need, she said. Ginny Deerin, chief executive officer of Wings for Kids, said her group will use the money to replicate its cost-free social and emotional learning after-school program at Memminger Elementary at Chicora Elementary in North Charleston this coming school year. Wings for Kids already planned to expand to Chicora, but it's great to get the money and remove some of the fundraising pressure, she said. Most of the money will go toward program staff, but it also covers materials for academics, activities and parent sessions, she said. Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@ postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on July 1, 2008 at 2:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Grant money that is misused and abused. Most of it comes from the United States Department of Education and is funneled through the state.
You want to see how these schools really spend federal money? Do the record trail. I think the public might be shocked. Some of it could be criminal.
"Bridge of Hope in North Charleston received $200,000, and Wings for Kids received $198,718. The Charleston County School District received $200,000 to help downtown schools and $150,000 for North Charleston schools, and Dorchester School District 2 received $147,750."
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Using taxpayer provided "grant" money to provide after school and Saturday programs - sounds just like what it is: More taxpayer funded day care for "high poverty" students whose parents don't pay taxes. And it's being given to them from the No Child Left Behind law, the same law that schools and parents say is a hinderance to education but here they are sticking their hands out and taking the money.
Posted by wm123 on July 1, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I teach in a school that is fortunate enough to have an afterschool program funded with this money. I can't speak to Thomas' allegations--but I can tell you that the afterschool program fills a dire need for my students. Without that program, many would go home to an empty house--no supervision, no food, nothing productive to do. The program provides help with homework, free tutoring, supervised play activities, snacks, and dinner. I'm excited that more children will now benefit.
Posted by shoelaces on July 1, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also teach in a school with 21st Century. I have mixed feelings about the program. I do agree with wm123 that without it many kids would be left on thier own at home without supervision and without help on homework.
I also feel like it is sometimes just free daycare.
Posted by Early on July 1, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Free daycare. What about the others?
Seems like this state spends more on special needs programs than it does for the NORMAL school system.
Posted by jeff61 on July 1, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How do I obtain this grant. I have trouble teaching my kid and need a grant to help with this.
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wm123 - thank you for making my point. Those things you mentioned, free food, supervision, that's called taxpayer funded daycare. If a child is going home to an empty house with no food, supervision, or something productive to do that's called bad parenting. These taxpayer funded programs do nothing but encourage this cycle of bad behavior.
Posted by drp7773 on July 1, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is great, what is the income level to get in this free lunch program? Is it lets say 20,000 a year they get free babysitters, dinner, A home so they dont go home alone.Buttttttt the one that makes lets say 21,000 well they can go home alone, and be hungry no dinner here cause they make 1000 more then the other folks...Oh well cant please everyone.
Posted by wm123 on July 1, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Children don't get to pick their parents. Yes, this might just be free daycare--but it's much safer for these children to be there than in an empty house with no food. I pay taxes, too, and would much rather see the money used to take care of these kids than give the money to their parents to spend on alcohol/drugs/cable TV, etc.
Posted by wm123 on July 1, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes--they have bad parents in many cases--but that's not the fault of the children. If these afterschool programs don't exist, the parents aren't going to become better parents. They will continue to neglect their kids . . . they will continue to make bad choices.
If we are going to take care of anyone in this world, shouldn't it be the helpless children? They can't choose to have better parents.
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wm123 - When the educrats get their way and No Child Left Behind is eliminated and this handout goes with it, then what? Create another welfare program? True, these children can't pick their parents but enabling their parents bad behavior is not going to end this merry-go-round of stupidity. If they bring children into this world they need to be responsible for them, not the government.
Posted by ParkCircle4Ever on July 1, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our school budget is slashed, our schools are underperforming, but according to most of these posters, these programs are not the answer. Since we cannot change where these children come from, we apparently can't put money into programs to help them, just how do you suggest we help these schools succeed? Wings for Kids is a SOLID program that has been very successful at Memminger and I am sure it will be welcomed into Chicora. See for yourself at www.wingsforkids.org.
Posted by zoomru on July 1, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My only concern with grants...what pot is it being robbed out of? The money comes from some general pot after it comes out of OUR wallets? Why can't these funds come from the county? When this money comes from the STATE or Federal government; you know for sure that a percentage "handling fee" was skimmed to redirect the funds. The higher up the chain you go ..the more political it becomes.
Posted by wm123 on July 1, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lou9--
It'd be great if these parents suddenly took responsibility for their kids when these programs disappear.
Unfortunately, in reality, these parents will simply leave their kids home alone afterschool. I don't see this as enabling their parents--they'll neglect their kids either way. I see these programs as a safe haven for the children--
I fear what will happen to my students if/when these programs go away.
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wm123 - You just said it, these parents will neglect their kids either way. So why do you, I, and every other hard working taxpayer have to pay for their daycare? How about telling these parents they'll have to pony up the funds for their "programs"? As long as we keep making excuses and giving them a free pass, they will continue to exploit all of us.
Posted by wm123 on July 1, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lou9-- But that's just it . . .It doesn't matter at all to most of these parents if their kids have an afterschool program to go to or not. They do not care. If their five year olds are coming home to an empty house--they do not care. If their 9 year old spends his afternoons roaming the streets with drug dealers--they do not care. If their 7 year old is stealing food from the corner convenience store because there's none in the house--they do not care. Many of their parents are in prison themselves. If they have to pay money for these programs, their children simply won't participate--they do not care.
But I do care. I know these children are helpless--they have no choice as to what kind of family they are born into. A small portion of our tax dollars should go towards giving them a safe place to go afterschool where they can get something to eat and some help with their homework. Not because it makes things easier for the parents--but because they are helpless children.
Posted by stand828 on July 1, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, give me $150,000 and some kids can come hang out at my house on Saturdays...
Posted by FiscalConservative on July 2, 2008 at 5:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by lou9 on July 1, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wm123 - thank you for making my point. Those things you mentioned, free food, supervision, that's called taxpayer funded daycare. If a child is going home to an empty house with no food, supervision, or something productive to do that's called bad parenting. These taxpayer funded programs do nothing but encourage this cycle of bad behavior.
That is why we should remove the programs. Let these kids drop out even earlier that way our schools will be left with only the smart ones. The rest can go to N. Chas. and shoot each other.
Posted by asdpe on July 2, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so saddened and ashamed by the majority of these comments. Appalled too, that those of you saying "the rest can go to NCHas and shoot each other" etc., would even say such a thing. Yeah yeah, I hear ya, it was just sarcastic, but still......... so so sad. Oh, and I forgot, you all grew up in the Leave it to Beaver house, right? Or maybe a house that was really just a cardboard box, you ate rocks for 3 meals a day, wore old flour sacks for clothes, and yet you made straight As in school and never misbehaved even without the luxury of Smartboards. Too bad today's kids can't live up to that stellar example. :(