By ANN RICHARDS
Two
21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) programs were honored with the William S. White Achievement Award for service to children, schools and communities at this year's 21st CCLC Summer Institute July 15-17 in Dallas, Texas.
The Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Child Opportunity Zone (COZ) and the Holyoke, Massachusetts
Connections Program were chosen by their peers to receive the annual award -- a departure from the tradition of selecting a single individual for recognition.
Meaningful partnerships, data-driven decision-making, coordination with day school curriculum and an ongoing commitment to creating a diverse and stable funding base were cited for the selection of the Pawtucket and Holyoke programs.
"As an urban high poverty school district, Holyoke faces the daily challenge of trying to close the achievement gap for students that are at risk both academically and developmentally," said Eileen Cavanaugh, director of the Connections Program, which just completed its sixth year of operation.
"The Connections Program considers it a significant honor to be one of only two 21st Century programs in the country to receive the 2008 William S. White 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program of Distinction award,” she continued.
"We are pleased to be recognized for our efforts in providing academic enrichment opportunities to Holyoke youth and to be able to play a role in not only helping to educate them, but also in providing a model for how schools and community organizations can come together in partnership.”
Massachusetts has many 21st CCLC programs that are considered exemplary, said Jonathan Considine, external relations coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“But when staff read through the application and saw the qualities that the nomination committee was seeking, Holyoke was the first program that came to mind," he said.
"From the outset, it was clear that the Connections program had a strong commitment to supporting the varied needs of the young people in their community."
The Pawtucket School Department’s COZ program first came to the attention of the Rhode Island Department of Education more than ten years ago, according to Jackie Ascrizzi, who with George McDonough, co-manages the state’s 21st CCLC Initiative and nominated Pawtucket for the award. COZ, a community school model, is the organizational umbrella for the district’s 21st CCLC programs.
"COZ staff demonstrated their commitment to an integrated service approach by bringing health, social and education services on-site to meet the needs of children, youth and their families," said Ascrizzi of her initial impressions of the program.
“We appreciate being recognized for our hard work addressing the academic and social needs of our children and youth -- and we intend to continue working with the schools and our community partners to close the achievement gap of our urban students," said Mary Parella, director of the COZ program.
“Our afterschool and summer programs have grown in the last several years to serve more than 1,200 children and youth in 11 elementary, middle and high schools.
"We are honored to receive such a distinguished award,”
One of the most outstanding aspects of the Pawtucket program is the enormous parent support for programs and services, according to Ascrizzi.
"COZ provides an extensive adult education program and a high-quality summer program, and provides an array of services for families on site or by referral,” Ascrizzi said.
“This is in addition to a huge afterschool program that is well-attended by students and well-supported by teachers, the superintendent, principals and parents."
Nominations for the award were limited to recipients of 21st CCLC grants, in honor of the tenth anniversary of the 21st CCLC initiative, according to organizers of the institute.
"Ten Years of the Best in Afterschool," was chosen as the theme for this year's institute to recognize and provide support for 21st CLCC programs working to sustain and improve their services. Training sessions focused on methods to embed core academic content in afterschool activities; analyze program progress to improve student academic outcomes; and build stronger linkages between afterschool and day school, teachers, families and communities.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the Mott Foundation, in conjunction with the
JCPenney Afterschool Fund, the three-day 21st CCLC Summer Institute brings together a diverse group of leaders from the fields of education, youth development, museums, libraries, recreation, family support, community development, government, philanthropy, and others who work with and in afterschool programs at the local, state, and national levels.
The William S. White Achievement Award was established in 2005 and first given to William S. White. President of the C.S. Mott Foundation, White led the Foundation in coordinating a partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the corporate community to provide additional enrichment and learning opportunities for children through the 21st CCLC initiative. Other past honorees include Philip Coltoff, former CEO and executive director of the Children's Aid Society in New York City and Bonnie Reiss, who helped craft California's Proposition 49, designed to provide funds for afterschool activities in all state elementary and middle-schools.