Supporting Student Success

NJSACC: The Statewide Network for New Jersey's Afterschool Communities has invited high quality programs serving students in grades 6-8 to participate in a unique an exciting opportunity in Supporting Student Success (S3). This pilot programs offer Expanded Learning Opportunities (“ELOs”) support to infuse the program content with Common Core State Standards (“the Common Core”).

The goals of S3:

Raise awareness about the Common Core amongst the ELOs in NJ
Identify effective practices and common challenges of ELOs working to support the Common Core
Establish evidence that ELOs are key partners in Common Core implementation

The Common Core Standards and Context of S3 project:

As NJ takes up the challenge of implementing the Common Core, the Team believes that high quality ELOs are an ideal partner.

The Common Core represents an important step forward for our public schools. The standards were designed with the real world in mind, reflecting the knowledge and skills that NJ’s students need for success in college and careers and ultimately, to compete successfully in the global economy.

Education reform has become a top issue nationwide. While the solutions are often hotly contested, most do agree that changes must be made to public education in this country. Here in New Jersey, Governor Christie has made education reform a top priority of his administration. Accountability, improved data systems, school choice, and increasing the number of charter schools have been his top goals. .

There are emerging initiatives in communities throughout NJ that highlight how education reform happens at the local level. For example, Paterson Public Schools were awarded a federal Full Service Community Schools grant to better coordinate a multitude of services, including afterschool programming.

While NJ is clearly making bold moves to improve public education, significant budget cuts have forced school districts to look to do more with less. Increasingly, school districts are looking at out-of-school time hours in order to meet their goals in a cost-effective way.

Programs participating in S3 will:

Make up a “learning community” that facilitates peer-to-peer learning and problem-solving.
Receive intensive training and ongoing technical support to plan and implement program activities that support the Common Core Standards.
Be trained to utilize the “Aligning the Learning Day” model (developed by the National AfterSchool Association and the National Association of Elementary School Principals) to support positive working relationships between the ELO Director and the school principals.
Participate in pre- and post-assessments to show the impact of the Learning Communities work.
Present the year of work at the 2012 NJSACC Conference

Expected Outcomes of S3 Project:

Know what the Common Core State Standards are and how they relate to ELOs
Understand how ELOs can complement the learning that happens during the school day
Have made linkages between the Common Core and their program activities
Have stronger relationships with principals and teachers
Have ongoing, working relationships with schools
Be seen as partners in supporting student success in their communities
Be able to document the positive impact on students

Supporting Student Success Participants

Foundation for Educational Administration
Middle School #4 & Middle School #7, Jersey City
Project Lead: Mary M. Reece, Director of Media & Innovative Programs
Program Composition:280 children, 6-8 grades, 40 staff
Non-Profit, Federal/State Income Sources, 21st Century Community Learning Center

South Brunswick Community Education
Club 678 (Crossroads North Middle School), South Brunswick
Project Leader: Sheila Barry, School Age Care Manager
Program Composition: 80 youth, 6-8 grades, 8 staff
Board of Education/School Run, Parent Fees, Grants, Federal/State Sources

Program Name: Catholic Partnership Schools - SOAR After-School Program
St. Anthony of Padua Church, Camden
Project Leader: Elena Piperno, Coordinator of After-School and Summer Programs
Program Composition: 35 youth, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades, 2 full time staff, 7 to 8 volunteers
Non-Profit, Faith Based, Parent Fees, Subsidized (Vouchers)

Program Name: Twilight Club
F.W. Holbein Middle School, Mount Holly
Project Leader: Jennifer Carnes, Site Coordinator
Program Composition: 40 youth, 6-8 grades, 6 staff
For-Profit, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Parent Fees, Grants

Program Name: AtlantiCare Family Success Centers
New York Ave. Family Success Center, Camden
Project Leader: Rosalind Norrell-Nance, Director
Program Composition: 30 youth, 6, 7, 8 grades, 7 staff
Non-Profit, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Grants, Federal/State Sources

Program Name: 21st Century Community Learning Center
Newcomb-Helen Fort Middle School, Pemberton
Project Leader: Joshua Besserman, Program Coordinator
Program Composition: 175 Youth, 6-8 grades, 25 Staff
Board of Education/School Run, 21st Century Community Learning Center, Grants

Program Name: SOUL of Camden, Inc.
St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, Camden
Project Leader: Rachel Beugre, Administrator & Program Co-Director
Program Composition: 15 youth, 3rd-8th grade, 5 staff
Non-Profit, Grants, Business & Individual contributions

Program Name: The Work-Family Connection
Roselle Park Middle School, Roselle Park
Project Lead Info: Venetia Weeks, Senior Director
Non-Profit, Parent Fees

Program Name: Boys and Girls Club Clifton (Be Great Graduate)
Clifton
Project Leader: Andrea Fowles
Program Composition: 110 youth, Grades 6-8, 10 staff
Non-Profit, Community Based Organization, Parent Fees, Subsidized (Vouchers), Grants

Funded by the Charles S. Mott Foundation In partnership with:

Mott Foundation