The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit’s

21st Century Community Learning Centers Afterschool Program

Funding period: Fall 2014-September 30, 2017

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Schuylkill ACHIEVE

Soaring beyond expectations!

Mahanoy Area Minersville Area Pine Grove Area

Pottsville

Area

Williams Valley

STEMovationInnovation Motivation Ovation

S.CIENCET.ECHNOLOGYE.NGINEERINGM.ATH

Schuylkill ACHIEVE: 0ur vision, mission, and goal

• SIU proposes the Schuylkill ACHIEVE Afterschool Program in order to satisfy the need to increase students’ opportunities for meaningful learning through innovative and PA Core Standards-aligned approaches.

• Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s goal is to improve middle school students’ performance measures of classroom performance and school attendance by providing students with high-quality academic enrichment opportunities designed to promote attainment of state and local academic achievement standards in reading, math, and science.

https://www.y4y.ed.gov/about/

Schuylkill ACHIEVE

School District Partners• Mahanoy Area Middle

School (grades 5-8)• Minersville Area Elementary

Center (grades 5-6)• Pine Grove Area Middle

School (grades 5-8)• Pottsville’s D.H.H. Lengel

Middle School (grades 5-8)• Williams Valley Elementary

School (grades 5-6)

Local Community Partners• Penn State Schuylkill Campus• Walk-In-Art Center• Mud & Maker• Schuylkill YMCA• RSVP (Retired Seniors

Volunteer Program)• Schuylkill Conservation District• The ReDCo Group• McCann School of Business• Schuylkill County Drug &

Alcohol Prevention Program• Junior Achievement of Central

PA

Program Schedule

• 270, 5th through 8th grade at risk students facing academic, social, behavioral, and/or familial problems

• 12 hours per week (Monday-Thursday)• 36 weeks • In addition to 6 weeks of summer

programming including 3 weeks of “Summer of STEM Explorers” hosted by Schuylkill Technology Centers (3 days/week)

• Schuylkill ACHIEVE is a 42-week program per project year (October 1-September 30)

Students & Staffing

Target # of students to serve daily

1. Mahanoy MS 45

2. Minersville EL 40

3. Pine Grove MS 45

4. DHH Lengel MS 60

5. Williams Valley EL 80

Allocable # of daily staff

3+1 (+1 includes site coordinator)

3+1

3+1

4+1

5+1

Total = 270 students15:1 staff to student ratio

Student ACHIEVEment/Enrichment Components

Services that advance student achievement/academic enrichment • Mathematics and science education activities;• Arts and music activities;• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities• Entrepreneurial programs (students cannot be paid to participate or receive monetary compensation

such as paid internships);• Tutoring services, and mentoring programs; homework help• Limited English proficient (LEP) programs for parents and students;• Recreational/Physical activities (organized competitive sports such as PIAA, league fees, league

participation, competitions, coaches salaries and all related costs are not permissible);• Nutrition education;• Telecommunications and technology;• Expanded library services;• Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy;

• Student attendance and behavior programs;• Drug and violence prevention programs;• Counseling programs;• Character education programs; and• Service learning programs.

Student ACHIEVEment Components (included in our proposal)

• Collins Writing Program Book & CD for each site (Professional Development Tool)

• Growing the Next Generation of STEM Innovators Book for each site (Professional Development Tool)

• Digital licensing for use of Discovery Education (http://www.discoveryeducation.com/) and DefinedSTEM (http://www.definedstem.com/)

• Character COUNTS! (Character Education): Registered students receive a Character COUNTS! agenda

• Compass Awards: Student retention awards system• First-in-Math: remedial, online math program• LittleBits: hands-on, STEM focused

Character COUNTS!

About Character COUNTS!: Issues such as bullying, cheating, and academic achievement are addressed through the PA Core State Standards linked program, “CHARACTER COUNTS!.” The inclusion of CHARACTER COUNTS! makes character education both meaningful and effective by integrating state standards-aligned curriculum with the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Integrating weekly “people of character”, who have made a difference in the world through character-related contributions, CHARACTER COUNTS! infuses classroom discussion, goal recording, and journaling.

How it works: Each registered students is provided with a Character COUNTS! agenda to use for the duration of a project year.

How it supports Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s “Multi-Year Program Design and Performance” (Performance Measures): Participants in 21st Century will demonstrate additional positive educational, social, and behavioral changes.

Character COUNTS! Agenda

Compass Awards

About Compass Awards: In an effort to increase both school day attendance and Afterschool attendance/retention, Compass Awards is a patch based recognition program to highlight a student’s personal achievements in Schuylkill ACHIEVE.

How it works: Activity patches are awarded based upon completion of a specific skill or project including STEM, service learning, goal fulfillment, and creative writing.

How it supports Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s “Multi-Year Program Design and Performance” (Performance Measures): Students regularly participating in the program will show improvement in the performance measures of school attendance, classroom performance, and/or reduced disciplinary referrals.

First-In-Math

About First-In-Math: First-In-Math (FIM), an on-line, web-based program offering additional remediation to those students who are not proficient in math. FIM is aligned to PA Core Standards and its self-paced activities target mastery of skills and fluency, supporting differentiated instruction. FIM employs a sequential approach to learning and modules include positive feedback to boost confidence. Additionally, the program includes a family component. When a student logs on at home, parents can visualize what their child is learning by monitoring student benchmarks. FIM enables parents to actively participate in their child’s progress.

How it works: All participants are provided a unique FIM User ID. User IDs can be printed on labels for easy distribution. FIM automatically generates an additional Family User ID!

How it supports Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s “Multi-Year Program Design and Performance” (Performance Measures): Students regularly participating in the program will meet or exceed state and local academic achievement standards in reading and math.

First-In-Math

littleBits

About littleBits: LittleBits are electronic modules that enable students to design, create, and experiment with electronic hardware. Born out of the Maker Movement, the education initiative develops confidence, creativity, and interest in STEM through “making.” LittleBits are designed by educators to “simply make something that teaches something”. LittleBits curriculum design teaches across STEM disciplines and includes the necessary steps to maximize student engagement including: 1) demonstration, 2) brainstorming, 3) interactive design, 4) prototyping, and 5) sharing/discussion.

How it works: Each site will receive a $500 credit to choose which sets work best for their student needs. View sets online at : http://littlebits.cc/browse-lessons

*Email Schuylkill ACHIEVE Program Coordinator your selection and it will be ordered for you.

How it supports Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s “Multi-Year Program Design and Performance” (Performance Measures): Participants in 21st Century will demonstrate additional positive educational, social, and behavioral changes.

LittleBits http://vimeo.com/61650708

Student ACHIEVEment Components: Literacy

Mission: Possible • Offered to 110 TANF eligible youth,

grades 5-8• Schools must generate a list of

participants who are eligible. (Students who receive free or reduced lunch qualify.)

• Supplemental funding through Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board

• October 2014 through June 2015• Interactive “missions” implemented

by two Mission: Possible staff• Enhanced by expert guests, field trips,

and student book selections

Student ACHIEVEment Components: STEM

STEMovationSchuylkill ACHIEVE’s “identity” for STEM content

Daily STEM explorationSTEM partnership eventsSTEM toolsSTEM field visits and

visitors

Summer Program (6 weeks)

Summer of STEM Explorers • Hosted by Schuylkill Technology Centers• 3 week program in June• 3 days /week, up to 12 hours/week• STC instructors• Schuylkill ACHIEVE instructors• Transportation provided in part by SIU• Based on “STEM Employment Outlook in PA” by PA

Dept. of Labor and Industry• * Schedule and details subject to change!

Schuylkill ACHIEVE Events & Partners

Additional partnership opportunities:Schuylkill County ConservationSchuylkill County Drug & AlcoholEnergy Industry Partnership (The

ReDCo Group’s Gary MacCready)RSVP of Schuylkill County

(Retired Senior Volunteer Program)

Junior Achievement of Central PA

STEM Saturdays @ Penn State Schuylkill

Art Around the World @ Walk-In Art Center

C.S.I. (Career Search Investigators) @ Schuylkill Technology Center

Credit (per site) with Mud & Maker

Credit (per site) with Schuylkill YMCA

Additional Program Components

Parental involvement Monthly, on-site family nights Each site has been budgeted $400/project year for family nights Invitation from the SIU for free adult education classes (GED

readiness) and computer skill classes Home access to First-In-Math SIU representative at district “Open House” event(s) as requested

by site Parent representatives on Schuylkill ACHIEVE’s “Advisory Board” “Schuylkill ACHIEVE Center” that is accessible to parents Annual parent survey

Additional Program Components

Advisory Board Three Advisory Board Meetings per project year Hosted by Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Each site will establish a local advisory board who will be invited

to attend the three annual Advisory Board Meetings. Local Advisory Boards are composed of:• 10-15 members including at least 2 parents, 2 students, teachers,

school district administration, community agencies and the private sector

Each site coordinator will establish a local advisory board master list with contact names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses by November 1st, 2014. Please send this list to the Schuylkill ACHIEVE Program Coordinator.

Evaluation Components & Requirements

Regular site visits (completed by Schuylkill ACHIEVE Program Coordinator/External Evaluator)

Monthly site report sent to Schuylkill ACHIEVE Data Analyst (completed by individual Site Coordinator)

Monthly Fiscal Reporting & Expenditure Reports for PDE (completed by Director) Quarterly Performance Report/End of Year Report for Center for Schools and

Communities (completed by Data Analyst) Annual Federal Report, known formerly as PPICS (completed by Site

Coordinator/Data Analyst/External Evaluator) Annual PDE Grantee Report for AIU3 and PDE (completed by Data Analyst) Annual Local Level Evaluation Report for PDE(completed by External Evaluator

and submitted to PDE) Annual Equipment and Residual Supplies Forms for PDE(completed by Schuylkill

ACHIEVE Program Coordinator/Data Analyst) Written Emergency Readiness Plan (through collaboration with SIU and school

district) Schuylkill ACHIEVE Professional Development Plan (completed by Schuylkill

ACHIEVE Coordinator, Analyst, and Director)

Additional Program Evaluation Components

Evaluation Data Collected• State assessment data (PSSA)• Reading, math, and science report card grades (fall/spring)• Program operations, staffing, activities, and other information related to

implementation (partially obtained through regular visits by Schuylkill ACHIEVE Program Coordinator & External Evaluator)

• Program attendance• Student demographics (including Free/reduced lunch status and ESL populations)• Local reading and math assessments (derived from First-In-Math, etc.)• School attendance and discipline records• Fiscal/budget information• Annual teacher survey• Annual parent survey• Annual student survey• Event surveys

*** Use of AIU3’s student attendance and student workbook tracking documents

Additional Program Components

Professional Development• Schuylkill ACHIEVE staff will develop a new

professional development plan (with guidance from PDE)• Professional development will be applied directly on-site

during Schuylkill Achieve• Professional trainings from external agencies will occur

at least once per project year and be held at SIU• Invitation to annual Extra Learning Opportunities

conference in Harrisburg, PA (spring) and other regional trainings

Lights On Afterschool

• Thursday, October 23 • National Afterschool celebration• Showcases awareness and highlights

appreciation for Afterschool • Possible family event/ “Schuylkill

ACHIEVE Open House”• Find out more at :

Afterschool Alliance: Lights On Afterschool!

• Sample ideas, print-outs, invitations, student activities, Afterschool fact sheets, logos, and more.

Budget

REASONABLE ALLOCABLE ALLOWABLE

Unallowable Expenses

Snacks (including refreshments for staff meetings, etc.) cannot be purchased with 21st CCLC funds. Alternative funding sources and/or federal nutrition programs are to be utilized.

Technology purchases have NOT been included in our C7 grant application. Schoolwide and school-related projects, programs, presentations, athletics

and supplies used during the school day. If supplies are to be shared during the school day, items must be prorated.

Purchasing gift cards is strictly prohibited for any reason or purpose. Entertainment, which includes tickets to shows, sport events, recreation,

and student meals is unallowable. Selling marketing products, paid for by 21st CCLC funds in order to fund

raise, is unallowable. Alternative funds or donations can be used to purchase marketing products for fund raising purposes.

The only exception to use 21st CCLC funds for the purchase of food/snacks is during dedicated family events.

Staff Wages & Staffing Practices

Staffing:5 Site Coordinators (on each week)

18 Instructors (on each week)

Staffing practices: Weekly staffing of 18 instructors must be varied to ensure that students are exposed to staff who are equipped with expertise in core subject areas. Staff should rotate in order to alleviate “burn out” to ensure that students are receiving differentiated, high-quality programming for 36 weeks of on-site out-of-school time activities per project year.

Site Budget Distribution