News Release Contact: Beth Falconer, PlusTime NH
603/798-5850 day
603/677-3953 evening
603/996-6584 cell
Nellie Mae Education Foundation Announces
“NH’s Vision for High School Redesign”
A Collaborative Project Between Nellie Mae Education Foundation, PlusTime NH, NH Department of Education, and the NH Office of the Governor
Grant Supports NH Education Leaders’ Support for
Afterschool for Older Youth
PlusTime NH and Manchester’s 21st Century Community Learning Center programs hosted a Lights On Afterschool rally on Monday, October 15th, from 4-6pm at McLaughlin Middle School in Manchester. The rally in support of afterschool programs was one of more than 7,500 such events around the nation– the eighth annual Lights On Afterschool celebration, organized by the Afterschool Alliance. The event focused attention on all afterschool programs do to keep kids safe, help working families, and inspire learning.
At the event, Nicholas Donohue, President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, (and past NH Commissioner of Education), joined representatives from NH Department of Education and PlusTime NH to announce a planning grant for “NH’s Vision for High School Redesign.” The goal of this work is to create systems which help New Hampshire high schools increase student engagement, student achievement, and decrease drop out rates through student participation in real world learning in the participation of Extended Learning Opportunities.
"Schools and the people who work in them are doing noble work to support the learning of students they serve. To fully honor those efforts and to enhance student success, we need to go further in rethinking where, with whom and when we educate our youth," said Nicholas C. Donohue, President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. "The challenge of preparing students to become well-rounded and successful citizens demands this. New England After 3PM points out that New Hampshire education leaders are linking afterschool participation to improved school outcomes for older youth. It is for this and other reasons why I am pleased and proud to announce a planning grant from the NMEF to a public/private partnership between the state, Plustime NH and others. This grant is meant to support the development of Extended Learning Opportunities that are rigorous, build on students’ interests and contribute to their ability to graduate. It is an exciting and important venture for the Foundation."
Governor Lynch sent his support by stating, "I am committed to making sure more of New Hampshire's young people graduate from high school. This grant will help us reach that goal by supporting alternative programs for all students, including those who do not do well in the traditional classroom," Gov. Lynch said.
Special attention was also given to the release of a new report, “New England After 3PM: Spotlight on New Hampshire”, which highlights survey results from NH Educational Leaders and demonstrates strong support for afterschool programs. The report was released by the Afterschool Alliance, Nellie Mae Education Foundation and PlusTime NH.
“This survey demonstrates that New Hampshire education leaders see tremendous value in afterschool programs and know that children and youth lose critical opportunities to learn and grow when programs are not available,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant who was in town for the event. “We need to support more quality afterschool programs, which keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. As we celebrate Lights On Afterschool around the country this week, this survey underscores the work still to be done to make quality afterschool available to all in New Hampshire.”
Among the other findings in the new survey of New Hampshire superintendents and principals:
· 96 percent of state education leaders agree that children in afterschool programs are more likely to attend school regularly, turn in homework on time, and improve their grades and test scores than similar students not in afterschool programs – and that afterschool students are more likely to be engaged in the classroom and less likely to drop out.
To read "New England After 3pm: Spotlight on New Hampshire," click here
Following the speaking ceremony, guests joined over 200 youth participants from Manchester’s 21st CCLC programs in an interactive “Arts Fair” featuring model afterschool activities ranging from a Trash Can Band to mask making.
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Manchester’s 21st CCLC programs opened in January 2005 with a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program now serves upwards of 1300 children, providing homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring, and intensive art programming, along with enrichment activities in dozens of other subjects. The program is a collaboration between the school system, Currier Art Center, Manchester Redevelopment Housing Authority, the Acting Loft and Manchester Boys and Girls Clubs.
PlusTime NH is a statewide non-profit organization that provides the guidance, leadership, and support essential to create, improve, and sustain afterschool programs in New Hampshire communities. www.plustime.org
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation is the largest philanthropy in New England that focuses exclusively on promoting access, quality and effectiveness of education. Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has distributed nearly $72 million in grants. Currently, the Foundation is realigning its program investments. The Foundation will focus its grantmaking on strategies that support underserved learners while building knowledge about how to dramatically improve outcomes for the majority of New England's learners. For more information on the Foundation’s current work, visit www.nmefdn.org
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information on Lights On Afterschool! is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
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