The Huntsville City Board of Education approved a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama to operate a free after-school pilot program for select schools. As part of the memorandum of agreement (MOA), the after-school program will offer a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while also offering support in math and reading.
The STEM Enrichment Program will be offered to all students who attend schools on the priority list from the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). HCS hopes to help these schools move up one letter grade over the next two years on the state report card.
- Chapman Elementary
- Dawson Elementary
- Highlands Elementary
- Lakewood Elementary
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
- Montview Elementary
- Ridgecrest Elementary
- Rolling Hills Elementary
- Sonnie Hereford Elementary
The Boys and Girls Club will use their proven model, currently located at Williams Elementary, to provide this impactful opportunity. The STEM Enrichment Program will operate four days a week until 5:30 p.m. The goal is to begin the program the week of Oct. 30, 2023.
"By combining our resources, we hope to enhance the foundational enrichment skills while developing a deep interest in STEM to magnify the impact on local youth," said Patrick Wynn, President of the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama. "Working together, we can broaden the horizons for and prepare the next generation of innovators and leaders."
Schools are in the process of recruiting students, and parents are invited to contact their child's school if they are interested in their student attending.
Representatives Anthony Daniels and Laura Hall helped propose this grant worth approximately $3,000,000. HCS Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton also praised HCS board representatives for their support in facilitating the partnership.
"Because of opportunities like this, we are able to take our resources to support all of our schools," Dr. Sutton said. "This is a substantial grant that will move our school district forward."
Additionally, HCS is working to recruit educators internally to work with the students on STEM and reading skills. HCS is also recruiting interns from local universities including Alabama A&M, Athens State, and The University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH).