Mercer County High School receives funding for 21st century Program funding award

Mercer County High School receives funding for 21st century Program funding award

Jodi L. Scott, Regional Superintendent is pleased to announce that the Henderson-Mercer-Warren Counties Regional Office of Education #27 has recently been awarded a $225,000 grant to serve students at two sites with 21st Century funding awarded through the Illinois State Board of Education. Before and after school enrichment opportunities will be offered at Mercer County High School serving ninth through 12th grades and at Monmouth-Roseville Junior High serving seventh and eighth grade students. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) sought to establish and maintain 21st Century Community Learning centers (21st CCLC) via competitive grant funds to work with low performing public and private schools and provide students with academic enrichment opportunities and activities designed to complement the student's regular academic programs. The Regional Office of Education successfully received this highly competitive award.

The Regional Office of Education has implemented previous programs of this nature at West Central Middle and High School and at Monmouth-Roseville School. Currently, United High school is in the middle fo their third year with program offerings such as music, art, cooking, homework assistance and CPR/AED Training just to name a few.

Program needs will direct opportunities at each site by addressing the following:

• Academic and enrichment opportunities for children in core academic subjects including English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages,civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography

•Offer academic, artistic, and cultural enrichment opportunities to students and their families. These activities will extend the normal school day to allow for extra learning time,new learning styles, and career and college-readiness with community partnerships.

•Offer services, programs and activities that are designed to expand upon the normal day for youth development activities; drug and violence preventionprograms, counseling programs, art, music and recreation programs, technology education programs; and character education programs and

•Offer literacy and related educational services to the families of participating students of each district.

This new funding will serve students at these new sites for five years or until the 2018-19 school year ends. Please feel free to contact Jodi Scott, Regional Superintendent, Alan Boucher, Mercer County District Superintendent or Ed Fletcher, Monmouth-Roseville District Superintendent should you have questions or want to volunteer with this exciting new program.