School system receives $4 million in grant funding

Carrollton City Schools will receive more than $4 million in grant funding over the next three years to provide after-school enrichment/remediation programs targeting academically at-risk students.

The school system was awarded a total of four grants through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, a U.S. Department of Education initiative that supports the creation or expansion of community learning centers that operate during out-of-school hours and that have three specific purposes: To provide opportunities for academic enrichment and tutorial services; to offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities to reinforce and complement the regular academic program; and to offer families of 21st CCLC students opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
 
All four of Carrollton's schools submitted separate proposals to the Georgia Department of Education to seek funding through the highly competitive grant program.  Carrollton Elementary School proposed an afterschool/summer school program called PALS – Positive Academic Learning Stars. This program will provide extended day/year services to approximately 160 at-risk second and third grade students who did not meet the state standards or grade level benchmarks in math. The grant amount awarded is $350,000 per year for three consecutive years.
 
Carrollton Middle School proposed an afterschool/summer school program called SMART – Science, Math, Arts, Reading and Technology.  This program will provide extended day/year services to approximately 145 at-risk fourth and fifth grade students who did not meet the state standards on the CRCT. The award amount is $303,352 per year for three consecutive years.
 
Carrollton Junior High School proposed an afterschool/summer school program called The Trojan University.  This extended day/year program will provide enrichment services to approximately 215 at risk sixth, seventh and eighth graders who did not meet the state benchmarks in math or reading. The award amount is $350,000 per year for three consecutive years.
 
Carrollton High School proposed an afterschool/summer school program called BRIDGE – Building Resources that Increase the Desire to Graduate for Everyone.  This program will provide enrichment services to approximately 150 at-risk ninth graders who failed one or more areas on the CRCT.  Award amount is $350,000 per year for three consecutive years.
 
Grant totals equates to $4,060,056 over the next three years.
 
Kenya Elder, most recently the media specialist at Carrollton Middle School, has been selected to serve as coordinator for the programs.  In addition, each school is hiring multiple part-time staff members including site coordinators, data coordinators, family/parent liaisons, teachers and tutors.

Annette Murphy, director of Title I and federal programs, said the school system decided to apply for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant because the goals of the grant were in direct alignment with the school system's improvement plan.

"In an effort to promote continuous improvement, Carrollton City Schools continuously reviews our system data to identify our at-risk populations, root causes and possible initiatives to support  our struggling students," said Murphy. "We looked at test data and surveyed  stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and community partners. Through this assessment, we recognized that there was a need for free or affordable after-school and summer programs for our at-risk populations."