Bridging the Achievement Gap: An After School Program That Works
The Lawrence Township Public Schools and Lawrence Nonprofit Housing Corp. formed a partnership to assist at-risk students. This has evolved into the community-based “Every Child Valued” program at Eggerts Crossing Village (ECV). Every afternoon, children from Lawrenceville Elementary School return to ECV’s meeting rooms.  Locating the program in the housing complex, program partners have fostered credibility, trust and relationships between families and teachers. Students are provided with extended time to work on math and literacy goals.  ECV teachers use a variety of instructional tools to supplement the students’ knowledge and understanding of the general education curriculum. Enrichment activities are a large and motivating component of this program.  Third and fourth graders can attend a weekly Walkabout in the Natural World program, under the direction of an environmentalist.  This program provides children with an opportunity to explore local park areas and wetlands, learn photography skills, and write and record songs. Trips to the movies, the beach, and to a music-recording studio are other enriching activities. The Pizza Pages Reading Initiative rewards children for reading. During the six-week summer program, mornings are spent on academic enrichment, and the afternoons are spent swimming or working on arts and crafts.