Moore announces competitive grant funding for Webster public schools

BOSTON – Students at the Bartlett Junior Senior High School and Park Avenue School in Webster will benefit from afterschool activities that support their learning, announced Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge. The Webster Public Schools was one of 22 school districts awarded a highly competitive
$264,000 21^st Century Community Learning Center (CLC) grant that will fund this initiative.

“The 21^st Century Community Learning Center grant program is an excellent means for extending the school day to promote enrichment and positive student outcomes,” said Sen. Moore, a supporter of Webster’s effort in applying for the CLC grant. “The need for CLC services often outpaces districts’ ability to pay for them. I therefore applaud the Webster Public School for taking full advantage of this alternative funding source, for the full benefit of its students.”

Selected through a competitive grants process, the Webster Public School was one of 22 funded sites that were among a pool of 41 requesting $10.2 million in grants funds. The purpose of the federally-funded Massachusetts 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant is to support additional learning time for students in grades K-12 before and/or after school and during the summer that provides creative and engaging academic enrichment opportunities that will help to address college and workforce readiness and success.

Last fall the Webster Public Schools was awarded a CLC grant that enabled it to establish a CLC Demonstration Site at the Webster Middle School.

According to 2010-11 school year data, 19,000 students received program services at 183 sites across the Commonwealth. Student participants showed positive gains in all eight academic and six intermediary outcomes that the Survey of Afterschool Youth Outcomes(SAYO) tool measures, with the greatest average pre to post increases being in reading, written communication, mathematics problem solving, and analysis. Student participants showed positive gains in all five intermediary outcomes measured, with the greatest average pre to post program increases in initiative and relationships with adults.

For more information about Sen. Moore’s efforts to support elementary and secondary education in the Worcester & Norfolk district, visit www.senatormoore.com, or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatormoore.