21st Century Community Learning Centers

The Anchorage School District, a recipient of three 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) grants from the U.S. Department of Education, currently provides after-school enrichment programs for K-6 students in core academics - homework help, tutoring, drug and abuse prevention, technology training, recreation and the arts at eleven public school facilities.

The purpose of the 21st CCLC is to expand learning opportunities for children and their families outside of regular school hours. These programs offer strong after-school activities, which involve both schools and the community, joining together to help kids develop into healthy adults. Our 21st CCLC after-school programs work with public and non-profit agencies and organizations; local businesses; higher education institutions; recreational, cultural and human services organizations to: prepare kids for success in today's economy provide opportunities to try new skills, learn different ways of approaching challenges with creative solutions, work on tough subjects and achieve success Eligible students participate in programs whose goal is to increase academic success in reading, writing and math. The Anchorage Community Education Learning Centers offer a structured supportive environment.		Anchorage Locations Elementary School Coordinator Phone Fairview Sharron Harris 907-742-7626 Mountain View Denielle Baldwin 907-742-3938 Muldoon Lisa Orr-Hickey 907-742-1491 North Star Eric Saetre 907-742-3856 Northwood Maria Clyde 907-742-6819 Ptarmigan Craig Petersen 907-742-0444 Russian Jack Linda Wetherby 907-742-1343 Taku Kit Greene 907-742-5960 Williwaw Lois Kniefel 907-742-2002 Willowcrest TBD 907-742-1019 Wonder Park Drew Hansen 907-742-1730 21st CCLC Office Position Phone Susan Williams Manager 907-742-4410 Greta Ingram Admin. Assistant 907-742-4410
If you are interested in finding out ways to volunteer with the 21st Center Community Learning Centers or would like further information contact Susan Williams.

After-school Programs Protect and Teach Our Kids

What do our kids do after the school bell rings?

A growing number of youth in Anchorage spend the hours, between when school closes and parents return from work, unproductively — watching television, surfing the net, hanging out with friends, and sometimes getting into trouble.

• Juvenile crime triples from 3-8pm and peaks from 3-4pm during the hours after school
• 28% of U.S. children live with a single working parent or two working parents
• Between 5 and 7 million, possibly as many as 15 million, "latchkey children" are home alone after school
• The most common activity for children after school is watching TV - on average 23 hours a week

Turning the after-school hours into a time when kids take on new challenges, learn new things, and find new ways to contribute to their communities, keeps kids on the path to achievement, which is the primary goal of the 21st Century Community Learning Center program.

What do after-school programs do for kids?

The after-school program provides supervised activities, including homework assistance, arts and crafts, and recreation each weekday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at all elementary sites. The program is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade in selected schools.

Children who regularly attend quality programs have:

• Better grades and conduct in school
• Better peer relations and emotional adjustment
• More academic and enrichment opportunities
• Students who spend 1-4 hours per week in extracurricular activities are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents

Already in Anchorage, students who attend the after-school program:

have made academic gains are feeling safer  are turning in their homework more often  like school more  are less likely to participate in non-supervised activities

In Anchorage, teachers report that students are doing better in school. Parents are thrilled to be able to spend quality time with their children in the evening, because their homework is done with help from tutors in the after-school program.