Shanklin Elementary 

The ACE program is located on the Elementary campus in the Luling School district. Shanklin Elementary is a Title I school. The students that attend ACE are in need of academic support as well as help with social and emotional learning and life skills. The goal of the center is to provide students a safe, welcoming and respectful environment to continue learning after the regular school day. The students that attend are in need of extra support that an afterschool program provides. The families of ACE students also need help with supporting the students’ academic success as well as support for family engagement. Students are selected using benchmark test data, STAAR test data and students that are at risk and have a need for enrichment activities after school. The site coordinator collects data on all students and then meets with the campus principal, interventionists and counselor to prioritize the targeted students. The students that receive priority consideration are the at-risk students and students that are below reading and math levels. Students who are in need of SEL, math and reading tutorials and a safe place after school also receive priority in to the ACE program. Data from state assessments and Measurement of Academic Performance (MAP) testing are used to target the students that have immediate needs for Math and ELAR tutorial help. Students with a need for academic help in other areas are then prioritized and invited to participate in the program. Demographic data and family need is also used to identify students that would benefit from an afterschool program. Phone calls, emails and invitations are sent out to the parents and students introducing the ACE program and inviting them to enroll. ACE students are encouraged to regularly attend. The attendance expectation is in the handbook and is discussed with families at BOY orientation. Students are not allowed more than 5 unexcused absences per semester. Rewards are given at the end of the fall and spring semester for good attendance. The ACE Program incorporates the four fundamental components of academics, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family services. The ACE activities that are offered in the fall are activities that support the needs of the students and their families. Surveys are completed by students and families to determine what programs or activities they are most interested in. The campus needs assessment, smart goals for the program and student voice and choice are also used to decide what programs ACE will offer.

The activities ACE offers creates opportunities for teachers to engage students in fun and innovative ways outside the regular school day classroom. Homework help, Math and English Language Arts tutorials and computer club are activities that address the academic needs of the students. These are scheduled every week and are for the targeted students that are in need of after school academic support. The activities are offered in small group settings and taught by certified teachers. The enrichment programs are centered around the interest of students and families based on surveys taken at the beginning of the year. These programs are scheduled and evaluated throughout the school year to ensure they fit the needs of all students and continue to serve as a tool for continued success in and out of the classroom. Enrichment activities such as art, music, cooking, athletics, dance and chess clubs are programmed each week to guide and teach children in fun, interesting and productive ways. The ACE Program incorporates these activities and to foster cooperation, promote positive social behavior and emphasize health and safety. The activities also encourage self-confidence, the verbalization of feelings, and the development of problem-solving skills. Shanklin Elementary is a brand-new campus. The ACE program has access to the cafeteria, gym, office

space, outside areas, media center/library, art and music room and 4 other classrooms. All rooms are equipped with smart boards and ample space for ACE students. There are no facilities ACE is not able to use. All staff are required to complete district compliance training as well as professional development focusing on the specific expectations of the ACE program. The ACE program is well supported locally. Shanklin Elementary has a new campus principal and new administrative support at the central office level. The site coordinator meets with the administration once a month to discuss updates, program goals and facilities usage. There is also support for the program by the mutual collaboration regarding the needs of students and their families. The Luling community is also able to provide a wide array of resources that support the ACE program. The program has partnered with Connections (non-profit), the public library, the Luling Foundation Farm, Fire and Rescue services as well as other local businesses to support the enrichment and college career and readiness activities in the program.