Overview of 21st CCLC Report of Kent School District Program/Cohort 13
The overarching goal of the Kent Connects, the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program in Kent School District, is to support students’ academic achievement. The program is located at Meeker and Mill Creek Middle Schools, and focuses on:
- Increasing academic achievement
- Improving learning behaviors in the classroom
- Social emotional well-being
- Preparing students for success in high school and real world post high school opportunities
The programs’ approach this work through a lens of trust and relationship building both with teaching/school staff as well as with students and families.
2020-21 Program Year: The 2020-21 year was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures. Concurrently, there is continued and growing movement for racial justice and against the pervasive racism that is oftentimes described alongside COVID-19 as a “dual pandemic” in the United States. The Kent School District 21st CCLC program has operated in this context, and has built on areas of strength in its response:
- Adaptability and Resilience: The program continued to demonstrate adaptability, flexibility, and creativity as it shifted to virtual programming for the 2020-21 year. Staff adapted to and learned how to facilitate online programming with students. To garner student interest and learning, both programs offered a variety of offerings to meet a diversity of interests and student needs. Both programs also incorporated socio-emotional content and supports given the impact that COVID-19 has had on students and families. There were more opportunities to connect with families, with the program hosting (virtual) family events and inviting families to join some of the afterschool programming, which was encouraged and welcomed. These efforts will continue to bear fruit as schools continue to adjust to hybrid learning and the upcoming 21-22 program year.
- Meaningful Connections: Enrolling students into virtual program was a challenge throughout 2020-21. Even so, those students who did enroll attended more regularly than in past years. Though the program served fewer students in the virtual format, staff prioritized regular attendance, and both sites had a larger proportion of students attending 30 or more days, and more specifically who attended 90 or more days, in 2020-21 than in any past year of the grant. (See Program Implementation for more information). There were also family events, which were well attended by families. Both sites provided weekly supply pick-ups to provide care packages to families, responding to their needs in this unprecedented time. At Meeker, the Site Coordinator offered weekly office hours, which was dedicated time for students and families who wanted to connect and obtain support and resources.
One Site Coordinator reflects, “Continuing to provide social and emotional support with students was vital during the transition from Fall to Spring programming as students were continuing to adjust to being in the virtual learning online through Zoom as well as during transitioning back into school for in-person learning. Building relationships with students and constantly providing a space to check in with their peers and program staff was important and helped students adjust quickly to the virtual programming on Zoom with a positive attitude.”
- Effective Partnerships: Both schools have deep connections and relationship with partners and have been successful at maintaining and forging partnerships to provide more robust and quality programming and supports to students. Meeker was able to offer up to five program activities per day and creatively expand the learning opportunities offered to students through multiple partnerships, including After School All-Stars (ASAS) and The Environmental Science Center of Burien. The site coordinator at Meeker shares that staff leaned into the existing partnership with the Puget Sound Educational Service District and ASAS to provide social and emotional learning in response to students request to spend time during program to discuss important social topics pertinent to the community, such as cultural awareness and social injustice. Mill Creek leaned on its partnership with the school building and staff, as the site coordinator puts it, to make “our program a place where students want to be.” Mill Creek staff support the development of the Mill Creek Pride Club which has served as a safe space for LGBTQIA students to come together weekly and connect. Meeker and Mill Creek also partnered together to host multiple virtual family events that brought together students and families for fun activities and learning.
“Continuing to provide social and emotional support with students was vital during the transition from Fall to Spring programming as students were continuing to adjust to being in the virtual learning online through Zoom as well as during transitioning back into school for in-person learning. Building relationships with students and constantly providing a space to check in with their peers and program staff was important and helped students adjust quickly to the virtual programming on Zoom with a positive attitude.”
