$8.3 Million ACE Grant Enhances Education After the Bell Rings for Economically Disadvantaged Students and Families

WACO, Texas – Students who are economically disadvantaged and their families are receiving help after the school bell rings in eight rural districts across the region thanks to the Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Grant. The ACE Grant, a Texas 21st Century Community Learning Center, Cycle 7 grant, will provide $1.67 million per year over the next five years to establish community learning centers at ten schools with at least 50 percent economically disadvantaged student populations.

The program assists student participants in meeting academic standards in core subject areas (reading, math, science and social studies) by providing after school time services to both them and their families at the school sites. To be eligible for the program, schools must meet at least one eligibility requirement, as outlined in federal education guidelines, or identification of 40 or more percent of students as economically disadvantaged. Schools must also have been in operation for at least the prior school year.

“ACE provides services to students and their families they would not normally have access to due to the rural nature of their school districts,” ACE Project Director Marcia Anderson said. “The ACE Programs in the eight school districts have served 1,803 students to date.”

Academics are not the only focus, however. Students and their families also participate in a variety of enrichment activities that complement the regular school day program through a Center Project Plan, developed to meet their specific needs. Activities include martial arts, culinary arts, art, quilting, robotics and more. The plans focus on attendance, behavior, promotion to the next grade level and graduation rates. They also include college and career readiness initiatives.

“The ACE program provides additional academic and enrichment support for the Hamilton students and community. ESC Region 12 has been very supportive with the program implementation and we greatly appreciate their continued work in helping serve our students. We have also been able to develop tremendous relationships with the Tarleton State University Department of Education and the additional help provided by college student volunteers each day has been a real positive for the program,” said Dr. John Craft, superintendent for Hamilton ISD.

Through the grant, ESC Region 12 employs a project director, 10 school site coordinators and a family involvement specialist. Participating districts, learning center sites and grade levels include:

-esc12-

About ESC Region 12 One of 20 regional education service centers statewide, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is dedicated to serving school districts, charter schools and area private/parochial schools in improving student performance. ESC Region 12 partners with school districts to deliver services and solutions to educators so they may help all children be successful.

Based in Waco, with satellite offices in Corsicana, Hamilton, Nolanville and Teague, ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Mills and Navarro Counties.