CROP and 21st Century Community Learning Centers

HISTORY AND PARTNERSHIPS

The Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) after school and summer program is a consortium of fourteen rural upstate school districts. All fourteen schools are funded as the result of three successful grant applications for the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. The grant awards are scheduled to run for five years, however continued funding is contingent on federal budget approval. Three school districts lead and administer the program budget; Charlotte Valley Central School, Roxbury Central School, and Morris Central School. Typically, the CROP program runs for two hours after school providing free, high quality programming and academic support for students in grades K-8. Lessons are an extension of the school day curriculum and academic standards. Summer programming varies by site.

Community Partners partners provide enrichment programming and are vital to the success of CROP's 21st Century Community Learning Centers' project thus far. The CROP program partners with:

*The Roxbury Arts Group

*Cornell Cooperative Extensions

*Hanford Mills Museum

The Roxbury Arts Group provides students with art programming from using textiles to sculpting portraits. Cornell Cooperative Extension engages families with healthy meal prep lessons and Hanford Mills provides enrichment with activities including butter making and historical games.

We also offer funding for students to participate in Girls on the Run at sites where volunteer coaches are secured.

CROP Community Partners

ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

The CROP Afterschool Program continually undergoes assessment and evaluation to identify programmatic challenges and celebrate program successes. Below is a portion of the Annual Surveys for the 2024-2025 school year, prepared by CROP Independent Evaluators: Apter & O'Connor

The CROP Programs offer a wide variety of engaging lessons and activities that help students increase academic achievement and develop skills in social and personal responsibility, while improving their emotional well-being.

CROP: Aggregated Data from Student, Parent, and Staff Surveys

2024-25 Academic Year

- 96% of parents rated the program as good or excellent.

- 95% of parents say CROP has helped their children complete their homework regularly.

- 96 % of parents are satisfied with the classes and activities offered to students.

- 79% of regularly attending students improve their GPA in math or ELA.

- 95% of students say they have friends in the program.

- 88% of students say CROP staff helped them when they needed it.

- 97% of staff surveyed agreed that the program offers lessons and activities that are interesting to students.

CROP values its partnerships with Hanford Mills, Roxbury Arts Group, and Cornell Cooperative Extension. 561 Partner Programs were completed during the 2024-25 academic year, incorporating a diverse array of topics, such as cooking classes, painting, STEM activities, dance, nutrition, and more.

The CROP Program offers students high-quality enrichment and academic opportunities through three Lead Schools.

21st Century Community Learning Centers grants include the following schools:

*Charlotte Valley Grant Schools: Andes, Charlotte Valley, Margaretville, South Kortright, Stamford

*Morris Grant Schools: Edmeston, Laurens, Milford, Morris

*Roxbury Grant Schools: Gilboa-Conesville, Hunter-Tannersville, Jefferson, Roxbury, Worcester