Gonzales Elementary

 In addition to the information noted above, an after-school program is needed at this center because of the large number of low socioeconomic students and the large number of students who don’t have someone to help them with their homework at home. Academics have been a struggle in the Gonzales ISD for many years. With the added achievement gaps due to COVID, students are severely academically behind. Teachers do not have the time during the school day to go back and re- teach the skills that the students are missing or not mastering. The ACE program serves to provide that extra time needed for reteaching and closing the student’s achievement gaps. Gonzales ISD (GISD) is a rural school district and the demographics of the district show many students who are in need of academic reinforcement. These demographics include, but are not limited to, low SES of families, limited educational background of the parents, limited parental involvement, a large population of LEP families, and so many students failing the STAAR state exams. The ACE program uses the TIER intervention rating system to identify and recruit ACE students. Students are invited to be an ACE participant when they are identified as a TIER 2 or 3 student in need of help in either reading or math. The RTI instructors are valuable in identifying the students. In addition, feedback and recommendations are elicited from teachers and parents. Department heads provide valuable information to the coordinator regarding the remediation efforts needed for each grade level. This information is then shared with the ACE teachers and the coordinator visits and observes each ACE classroom several times each month. Because there is a high demand for students to be served in the program, parents agree that regular participation will be expected from their child. The program is supported by the campus administration and allows the coordinator to attend the various grade level leadership meetings and to access student information from Skyward. The ACE program is allowed the use of the library, cafeteria, computer lab and the needed classrooms. Teachers and/or instructional aides from the three campuses being served are represented on the ACE staff. Three paraprofessionals and several teachers help in the ACE program. The coordinator attends monthly meetings with the region service center. The coordinator was able to identify ACE students with the help of RTI specialists and the campus administration gave access to skyward to monitor those students. Students in grades 3 through 5 attend tutorials 3 days a week while students in grades PreK to 2nd grade attend tutorials 2 days a week. On the days those students do not attend tutorials, they attend academic enrichment classes that support their academic needs. Examples of enrichment activities and their reinforcement of academic skills include:

✓ CTE exploration which allows students to explore the opportunities available in high school

✓ The Book Club reinforces reading skills

✓ The Movement Club focuses on team work and fine motor skills for Pre-k and Kinder students

✓ The Nutrition Class works on math and reading skills and

✓ ACE adventures focuses on research and cultural exploration.