The Florida Department of Education has awarded the Jacksonville Children’s Commission a five-year, $3.5 million grant that will allow the organization to expand and serve hundreds of additional students.
The grant is for Florida 21st Century Community Learning Centers to expand the commission’s Team Up school-based after-school programs by adding sites at Windy Hill, Jacksonville Heights and Ramona Boulevard elementary schools by 2015.
Each site provides academic support, enrichment, a snack, dinner and homework assistance for students from 3-6 p.m. each weekday through the school year and for 30 days during summer vacation.
The program is staffed by certified teachers and youth development staff from Florida 21st Century.
In addition to increased academic performance, parents will be able to access the ongoing support services for student achievement.
The grant will allow the program to service 300 more children at the schools, Jon Heymann, commission CEO and executive director said in a news release.
Jacksonville now operates 65 after-school programs.
For more information, call (904) 630-3647 or visit jaxkids.net.