Ball State University received a four-year, $750,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Education to help programs at Longfellow Elementary School in Muncie's Whiteley neighborhood.
The grant, which was awarded by the 21st Century Community Learning Center Fund, allows enrichment programs to be offered after school, in the summer and on Saturdays to almost 170 students in kindergarten through third grade, according to a press release.
The programs also help Ball State students, as elementary education majors will have the opportunity to help with a family literacy program aimed at preschool-aged children and provide one-on-one tutoring in reading for children in first through third grades.
"These funds will go a long way toward changing the lives of many children at Longfellow," co-author of the grant Eva Zygmunt-Fillwalk said in the press release. "We're now able to offer some assistance to kids outside of the classroom which, in the end will help them succeed inside the classroom, and at no cost to families."
It is important to understand what it means to design activities around what is already being taught in school, co-author of the grant Patricia Clark said in the press release.
"At the end of the day, our goal is to make sure that all children are at the appropriate levels in reading and math by the time they reach third grade," she said.
The project is a partnership between Ball State, Muncie Community Schools, the Roy C. Buley Center, Huffer Memorial Children's Center and the United Way of Delaware County.
Ball State also received a $174,169 grant from the IDOE through the 21st Century Community learning centers in an effort to establish and expand Ball State's learning centers.
Community learning centers provide students with academic enrichment opportunities in order to meet state and local student performance standards within the core curriculum.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
