EnCompass receives $1.7 million grant for afterschool programs

EnCompass: Resources for Learning and its partner Rochester City School District have been awarded a $1.7 million grant to fund the Extended School Day programs at three Rochester elementary schools in the next five years.

The grant is from the New York State Education Department and will fund afterschool programs that address learning loss at RCSD’s John James Audubon School No. 33, Andrew J. Townson School No. 39 and World of Inquiry School No. 58.

Extended school day programs provide safe, enriching experiences for students and families, and they address opportunity gaps and below grade-level proficiency, which are serious concerns within Rochester schools, EnCompass officials noted. Because of school closures, remote instruction and shuttered programs during COVID-19, some experts estimate students will suffer up to four years of learning loss.

The EnCompass program operates three days per week for 2.5 hours per day and includes targeted tutoring, hands-on learning and projects, healthy meals and snacks, afterschool clubs (including step-team and art club) and safe bus transportation from school to home. EnCompass delivered the afterschool program remotely during the 2020-21 school year.

Now in its 11th year, the EnCompass ESD program selects schools based on School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) data and evidence of factors that negatively impact students’ achievement including high rates of chronic absenteeism, high percentages of economically disadvantaged students and/or large populations of students with disabilities. Students who attend are in the greatest need of additional time for academic intervention, social-emotional learning and health-benefiting opportunities.

Since 2004, EnCompass has worked collaboratively with RCSD to provide evidence-based academic enrichment and intervention programs. The organization serves 2,400 students and their families each year in a holistic, pre-K through graduation pathway of service and supports. Students come from 37 different Rochester public schools, and programs are delivered by EnCompass staff educators and navigators within local schools and on EnCompass’ 16 Lakeview Park campus.

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