Project Summary

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s (BGCPBC) Great Futures 21st Century Community Learning Center (GF21st CCLC) at Santaluces Community High School, located in Lantana, FL., serves 250 (primarily ELL, ESE, and ELA) at-risk students in grades 9-12 during out-of-school hours. GF21st CCLC provides academic support, enrichment, advising, service-learning, college/career readiness activities, and Adult Family Member Education. GF21st CCLC helps students succeed academically, graduate on time, and reach their potential, workforce ready. Program hours: M-F, 7:30am - 8:30am; M-TH 3:00pm – 5:30pm; 8am- 1:00pm on designated Saturdays (college tours, credit recovery, ACT/SAT Prep), and from 8:00am – 1:00pm during the summer.

The GF 21st CCLC’s synchronous virtual and on-site programs have been developed to support the S.I.P. and supplement the school curriculum as required by the grant. Activities developed by the teachers: assist in promoting learning, prevent additional learning loss due to school closures, and aid student progress for those who fell behind during the school year. GF’s programming provides the targeted students with the individual assistance and attention they require.

 II. OBJECTIVES

The Great Futures 21st CCLC program partners with schools and utilizes best-practices to:

1.  Support school attendance, on-time grade progression and high school graduation

2.  Increase parent/guardian involvement

3.  Bolster academic achievement

4.  Increase college and career readiness

5.  Engage students in service-learning

III. APPROVED ACTIVITIES:

Core academic subjects are taught by FDOE certified teachers (teacher to student ratio 1:15) and are aided by ELL and ESE certified teachers, as needed. Accommodations are made for students with disabilities or special needs, with services provided at a ratio of 1:1 to 1:10, based on students’ individual needs. Tutoring, advising, and academic remediation will be available to students year round, daily, before and after school, on specified weekends, and during the summer break. Students access online tutorial lessons using CPALM, KHAN Academy, Study Island, and other online programs.

GF21st CCLC activities are project-based (PBL) and/ community-based learning (CBL) approaches that accommodate students with varying learning styles and differences, building upon the knowledge from students’ varying backgrounds and experiences. Students enrolled in the GF21st CCLC program develop an academic and personal enrichment plan to support on-time high school graduation and their post-secondary education goals.

English Language Arts: The ELA objectives for students in 9th-12th grade subgroups call for an improvement in ELA performance to satisfactory or above levels. 

Mathematics: The mathematics objectives for students in 9th-12th grade subgroups call for improvement in performance to satisfactory or above satisfactory level. The GF21st CCLC program activities promote success for students taking Algebra I and beyond.

Science: The Science objectives for students in 9-12th grade subgroups call for improvement in performance to satisfactory or above satisfactory level performance. The GF21st CCLC program activities will help promote success for all those taking Biology and beyond.

Social-emotional Learning (SEL): A prominent theory in the social sciences, Life History Trajectory (LHT), suggests that due to a personal belief in the lack of future opportunities and resources, disadvantaged youth adopt a fast life trajectory with a focus on present gratification and short-term benefits. On the other hand, Slow life trajectories are characterized by deliberate goal setting, planning, and delayed gratification. To help GF21st CCLC participants develop slow life trajectories, all GF21st CCLC participants engage in self-management activities, which help develop goal-setting skills. All activities are designed to deepen each student’s commitment to him/herself, promote life-long learning, and a desire to create a healthy, positive plan for the future. SEL components are imbedded within all GF21st CCLC curricula and activities.

The schedule includes mindfulness, reflection time, stress reduction exercises, and more to address issues that may have become exacerbated due to COVID-19. Activities and curriculum have been approved by CASEL and developed by educational institutions such as Making Caring Common (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and other such organizations.

College/Career Readiness & Personal Enrichment: GF21st CCLC builds on the solid foundation of BGCPBC’s comprehensive, college and career readiness program tailored for first generation, low-income and at-risk youth. Utilizing a multi-pronged program helps GF21st    CCLC participants: succeed academically; identify career goals; acquire essential life skills; develop job skills; and submit competitive applications to post-secondary, degree-granting institutions and training programs. 

OnTrack to Post-Secondary Education: OnTrack is an online e-learning college and career readiness program for high school age students, school counselors, and mentors to understand the process of achieving post-secondary education. The content for the program was vetted by experienced high school counselors from across the country. It provides 9th -12th grade students with knowledge needed to graduate on-time and pursue post-secondary education. Thirty-eight short videos, per grade level, prepare students to apply to schools, gain acceptance, and receive financial aid support.

ACT/SAT Preparation: The GF21st CCLC expands and supports SCHS’s ACT/SAT prep program.

Career Readiness Advising is guided by the New World of Work Competencies, Attributes, and Traits (NWWCAT) for the “Top 10” 21st Century Skills Framework (developed with Mozilla Foundation’s national comparison of College/Career Ready competencies). The GF21st CCLC expands and supports SCHS’s academic advising program to align with the NWWCAT.

Study Island: This on-line educational platform offers GF21st CCLC participants rigorous content built on Florida standards in ELA, Math, and Science. Students have access to this online program during all sessions through the year. Additionally, Study Island has a special approach for ELL students.

Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC): participation offered to juniors and seniors, utilizes a service-learning framework designed to help youth (ages 16-18) develop essential 21st Century work readiness and life skills. This evidence-based, multi-component approach includes BGC of America’s Formula for Impact and Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets framework, and an evidence-based, job-training curriculum aligned with Skills to Pay the Bills (developed for youth by the US Department of Labor). Students who participate in the YVC each year act as peer mentors and tutors for incoming 9th grade GF21st CCLC participants. YVC members receive training throughout the year (in person or virtually) to support their service-learning experience. GF21st CCLC program encourages those who join the YVC to commit 100 hours of service per year, which may include virtual volunteerism opportunities. This program builds self-confidence and job skills, promotes character development and active citizenship, strengthens scholarship applications, and increases scholarship competiveness.

Additionally, service-learning activities strengthen SEL and the developmental assets needed to meet daily challenges. ELL and ESE, and other students from target subgroups, are encouraged to participate in this life-changing activity. YVC is used as a precursor for attracting students from SCHS to become AmeriCorps National Service members- an established BGCPBC program. Skills, such as teamwork, self-management, goal setting, empathy, communication, and responsibility enable eligible YVC members to successfully enter a position as an AmeriCorps member.

AmeriCorps Members assigned to LWCHS provide 1 year of National Service. The GF21st CCLC program will recruit, as a priority, GF21st CCLC eligible participants for BGCPBC’s AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps members receive a college scholarship, training, a living allowance, and prestige associated with being an AmeriCorps Member. Studies reported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency found that AmeriCorps members: are civic-minded citizens, have diverse skills, exhibit leadership abilities, and have higher college graduation rates than their same-age counterparts across the U.S.

Financial Literacy activities are offered each quarter to all students. BGCPBC partners with many area banks, such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Iberia Bank, to provide financial education. Financial literacy workshops (offered to family members, as well) provide students with knowledge about: savings and checking accounts, bank credit, cost of post-secondary education, careers in banking, financial benefits of graduating from high school and receiving a college degree (or a technical certification), as a means to a more stable financial future.

CareerSource: As part of our collaboration, CareerSource Palm Beach County (PBC) provides: community career fairs, informational career search workshops, and other outreach programs that inform students and families of CareerSource services. Other activities include: job placement/skills assessments, resume writing workshops, guest speakers, guidance and workforce insights. GF21st CCLC program, in partnership with CareerSource, targets high school students and provides programming that charts a course for Florida to be Number 1 in workforce education by 2030, to ensure Florida students are prepared for jobs of the future.

Adult Family Education: The program provides 5 Adult Family Education needs and interest-based workshops per year. GF21st CCLC interactive, learning workshops empower parents and provide them with information on how to access community resources. Workshop topics may include: English language literacy classes; financial literacy seminars; workshops covering insurance, fair housing, immigration, domestic violence prevention, and taxes (issues presented by the Legal Aid Society); workforce readiness provided by CareerSource PBC; health and nutrition programs offered by the Florida Department of Health; and ACEs and Trauma trainings facilitated by the Center for Child Counseling to equip parents with skills to nurture their teen’s emotional and social development and connect families with mental health services as needed. Other third-party experts will provide Mental Health First Aid workshops.

Art, Health, Sports, and Cultural Enrichment Programs: GF21st provides activities, which include fine arts, architecture, dance, music, poetry, writing, photography, nutrition, and more, based on student need and interest. The GF21st CCLC program promotes ongoing school club and athletic program participation to GF21st CCLC students, fostering school community engagement and equity.

Credit Recovery Assistance:  The GF21st CCLC program will incorporate credit recovery classes taught by certified teachers to ensure that all students can graduate on time and are ready for their next steps toward college or career. These classes are personalized to make students feel supported, welcomed, and positive from the moment they enter the room or virtual classroom. 

Santaluces Community High School 21st CCLC Narrative