AG 1999 11 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Middle School After-School Programs Current trends reflect the critical need to offer after-school programs targeting "latch key" children who may be experiencing suspensions, Iow grades, delinquency, and Iow self-esteem. According to the Census, Cabarrus County is above the North Carolina average in the percent of mothers in the workforce (80.3%) and families with two working parents (78.7%). School system research indicates that 53% per cent of our middle and high school students only occasionally have someone at home when they arrive from school. In the nineties in Cabarrus County, suspensions have increased over 500%, juvenile petitions have increased over 50%, calls for police service at schools have increased 150%, juvenile cdme has increased 80%, and abuse and neglect cases have increased 87%. Cabarrus County also has a high rate of teenage deaths ranking 12= in the state. These trends indicate the need to offer after-school programs for children in Cabarrus County. Cabarrus County Schools has sponsored KidsPlus programs at all its elementary schools since 1985. This is an after-school program that provides both enrichment and recreation for K-5 students. Any student can participate in KidsPlus. Parents pay a fee based on their income. Currently there are 882 students registered in KidsPlus. This program is not funded by Cabarrus County Schools; it is self- supporting. Two years ago 4-H began a program similar to KJdsPlus at Fries Middle School. Prior to beginning this program, a parent's needs assessment was distributed to all parents of Fries Middle School students (1,348). Parents responded that 320 youth were going home alone and 180 were caring for younger siblings. This program has served approximately 65 students each year. It includes tutoring as well as enrichment and recreational activities. Any student can participate, and at-risk students are especially recruited. Parents pay a fee based on a sliding scale. Scholarships are awarded to students who cannot pay. It is not yet self-supporting and is partially funded by a grant that may run out during this school year. In summary, Cabarrus County Schools has a large number of potential latch-key students. Eight hundred and eightly-two students in K-5 are served by KidsPlus. However, when students reach 6th grade, there are no services available except at one middle school. Two additional middle schools are extremely concerned about the number of their students who go home to empty houses. It is estimated that at least as many students can be served at each of these schools as are served at Fries Middle School. Therefore, 4-H would like to expand its services to these two schools: Concord Middle School and Mount Pleasant Middle School. 501C-3 See affached.