FWISD/CFW Funded Sites
Most of the 45 FWISD/CFW sites operate four days per week (Monday through Thursday) from the time school is dismissed to 6:00 p.m. In a few cases, parent-pay and free programs are offered at the school sites on Fridays. However, FWAS is free to participants, most of whom come from families that qualify for the federal free lunch program. FWAS’s day-to-day operations are overseen by an administrative staff, which consists of a director and two program coordinators. Each program coordinator is responsible for approximately half the schools. A
site supervisor manages the program at each site. FWISD/CFW goals include increasing educational competence, physical and social development, and decreasing opportunities for children to become victims or perpetrators of crime. At each site, children receive a snack and an opportunity to complete their homework with program staff assistance. Schools also offer programming in at least 3 of 5 other areas: (i) academic enrichment/tutoring/ homework help, (ii) recreation/youth development, (iii) fine arts, (iv) service learning, and (v) technology tools/skills.
21st Century Community Learning Centers Sites
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program is offered to students at 40 sites. Funding received from TEA supports between 100 and 150 participant slots at each campus per day depending on the site. Some sites are additionally supported with a small amount of Fort Worth ISD/City of Fort Worth (CFW) funds.
Most sites operate five days per week (Monday through Friday) and some operate on Saturdays. Program times vary at the campuses. Elementary schools and high schools operate from the time school is dismissed until 6:00 or 6:30 PM. Middle schools operate from 8:00 to 9:00 AM and from the time school is dismissed until approximately 6:30 PM. Day-to-day operations are overseen by an administrative staff, which consists of the Fort Worth After School (FWAS) director and a program coordinator for each of the six TEA 21st CCLC grants.
The mission of the FWISD 21st CCLC is to foster a community of lifelong learners. To accomplish this mission, the centers have developed programs to meet three specific goals and six objectives.
Goals
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Provide opportunities for academic enrichment to meet state and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects
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Offer students a broad array of additional youth development services that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program for participating students
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Offer families of students and other adults opportunities for literacy and educational development
Objectives
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increase the number of students who demonstrate increased proficiency in reading and math
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increase the number of students passing reading and math in TAKS
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increase the number of students promoted to the next grade
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reduce annual dropout rates
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reduce disciplinary referrals
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increase the number of families participating in family literacy activities
During the year, centers provide programming for students from their host school, and also provide ESL, GED, family literacy, and other programs for parents and adult family members.
Programs at the centers are a collaborative effort between the school and Community Based Organizations (CBO: Communities in Schools; Clayton Y.E.S.!; Knowledge Learning Corporation; City of Fort Worth Parks and Community Services; the YMCA; Camp Fire U.S.A). Each school employs the academic liaison, and the CBO employs the site supervisor. These individuals work together to develop a plan for recruiting students and staff for the program. They also develop programming at each site, with input from principals, students, teachers, and parents. The academic liaison facilitates communication with the principal and access to school facilities.
Activities at all centers can be placed in seven broad categories:
The offered classes are quite varied. For example, activities to support academic enrichment have included Lightspan Reading and Math, Lego Lab, Kidzlit, Brainchild, Science Club, and History Alive. Specific activities offered at each campus differ depending on local resources and site programming efforts.