ATHOL — At their last meeting, members of the Athol Royalston Regional School District School Committee received an update on where things stand in the third and final year of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The grant funds a partnership between the Athol YMCA and the district which serves children who meet the grant’s participation criteria.
According to Y Executive Director Jeanette Robichaud, “That grant criteria is that students are economically disadvantaged, have an IEP, a 504 Plan, or a recommendation from the guidance department or the school-based care counselors.”
An IEP, or Individualized Educational Plan, is developed to ensure that a child who has a disability and who is attending an elementary or secondary school receives specialized instruction and related services. A 504 Plan is designed to make sure a child with a disability has access to the classroom to ensure they receive an education. A 504 Plan does not call for specialized instruction.
The grant, according to Robichaud, provided $145,000 for the program in each year of its three years.
“Of the kids that participate in our program,” said Robichaud, “because we also do an after-school program, 74 percent of those kids qualify for this grant and get to attend for free.”
The program has served 72, 69, and, thus far this year, 77 students in each of the three years of the grant, respectively.
Grant program administrator Megan Shaughnessy said, “Each year we serve between 74 and 80 percent of the children who qualify for the grant, which is higher than the state-required 70 percent.”
“Our program follows the same schedule each day so that children are able to get into a routine and know what to expect,” said Shaughnessy. “Our students have a healthy snack and physical activity time each day. During the majority of the day, students are broken into three smaller groups.”
Shaughnessy said units currently being taught in the program include science, art, history, literacy, and math. Students have also had the opportunity to learn from such community resources as the Athol Bird and Nature Club and the Athol Police Department.
Statistics provided to the committee – a Survey of Academic Youth Outcomes from the 2017-18 academic year – indicated a 43.5 percent increase in English Language Arts skills, compared to measurements of those skills before students joined the program, as well as a 26 percent improvement in math skills.
Two other surveys, completed by teachers and staff, showed improvement by students in leadership skills, critical thinking, and relationships with peers.
“We’re just really pleased that we’re able to offer this program,” said Robichaud. “It really is good partnership between the Y and the district.”
Robichaud said the district will re-apply for a 21 Century grant in order to continue to the program for upcoming school years.