7 schools share $2.16 million in grants for out-of-school learning

Thomas Edison Charter School was one of seven to win the grant this year.

A charter school in Wilmington plans on using a new $320,000 grant to fund after-school and summer-school programs focusing on literacy, math, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Thomas Edison Charter School is one of seven community education centers receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.

Salome Thomas-EL, head of school, said he is honored to be awarded the grant, which is meant to help establish or expand community learning centers that provide students with enrichment opportunities when school is not in session. 

The grant is for five-years, meaning the recipients must spend the money within that time frame.

The sites had to apply for the grant and were selected by a Delaware Department of Education-commissioned committee. 

Applications were open for locations eligible for Title I schoolwide programs or schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families. 

Title I schools typically get additional funding to help disadvantaged students achieve, and they have 40% or more of the student population in low-income situations. 

“21st Century Community Learning Centers are federally funded, high-quality after-school and summer programs that provide students with safe, engaging places to try new activities, develop new skills, have fun and learn,” said Alison May, public information for the state education department.

The money must provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, like tutoring, mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment, music, arts, sports, cultural activities and community service opportunities.  

“We will provide mentoring and also support the social-emotional learning of our students, which is very important,” Thomas-El said. “We will use certified teachers on our staff and community assets to provide reading/literacy, math, social-emotional learning, chess, STEAM and arts programming.”

STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

As a K-8 school that serves a very high-needs community in Wilmington, Thomas-El said the school looks forward to continuing to bring joy, learning and resilience in school each day.

“And [we] truly feel blessed with this opportunity to impact our students, their families and the community,” he said. 

The other grant awardees are:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware Sussex ($320,000)
• Capital School District, Dover High School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, Dover Middle School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, East Dover Elementary School ($320,000)
• Capital School District, South Dover Elementary School ($320,000)
• University of Delaware 4H, Shue-Medill Middle School ($240,000)

Jarek Rutz

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.