In 1972, a study committee composed of the Charleston County School Board, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, and local recreation agencies, identified the need for life-long recreational and educational programs that would extend beyond the basic eduation curriculum and make available courses of interest to people of all ages. To provide this community service, there was a need for closed cooperation between all public agencies to avoid duplication of effort and to make the most effective use of available resources such as local schools and recreation facilities.
In 1973, three community schools were started with three different local recreation agencies, joining in partnership with the Charleston County School Board. The initial programs were well received by the citizens of Charleston County and over the next two years, four additional schools were added to enable the Community Education Program to serve more people in Charleston County. During this period the need to make the Community School Program available to rural was identified. As no rurual agencies were available to meet this need, the Charlesotn County School Board and the Kiawah Island Company joined in partnership to form the successful St. John's Community School.
In 1977, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and the Charleston County School Board consolidated their efforts to provide a county wide network of community schools, adding four new rural community schools to the existing nucleus of seven schools.
Today the entire program is funded by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and the Charleston County School District, with the local recreation agencies continuing to program cooperatively with the seven urban and suburban schools and the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission providing coordinating and programming assistance.
The Community Education Program has been enthusiastically received by the citizens of Charleston County. Annually, over one million contact hours are provided through the facilities and programs of the Community School system.
The Charleston County Community Education received the “Outstanding Organization Award” in 1989 from NCEA. John Kennedy, Community Officer for the program, was NCEA president in 2002 and has served NCEA in many capacities over the years. Charleston hosted the NCEA conference in 2001and the National Council of State Community Education Associations in 19 ?? . Upon being hired, each Community School Director attends the Leadership Training Program offered through the National Center for Community Education.
Awareness of Community Education programs is especially evident during the annual Lights On event. For Lights On , the Community School Program sponsors an all day celebration named KidStock. Over 800 children from our extended day programs attend along with 40 Americorps volunteers, over 100 staff, and volunteer services from local businesses and sport teams. Mayoral proclamations, family dinners at programs, and other activities highlight Lights On .
Many Community School Directors serve on boards for various local and state agencies that include 4-H, S.C. After School Care Alliance, Child and Family Services for Trident Technical College, Life Management Center, Mayor's Commission for Children, Youth and Families, School's Out, Dixie Youth Baseball Commission, Ashley Hall Board of Trustees, and Advisory Board for Children's Museum of the Lowcountry among others. The School District also supports the advancement of Community Education by allowing staff to attend conferences and workshops related to the field.
Accomplishments – Every high school in Charleston County houses a Community School Program. The scope of Community Education services is not limited to high schools. Middle schools and elementary schools are also utilized in delivering program services. In 2002, all extended day programs were consolidated under one name, Kaleidoscope , to identify the program as a singular entity of the Community Education program. Today, Kaleidoscope programs are offered in 34 elementary schools, 6 in 21 st Century Learning Centers at middle schools., Kaleidoscope programs serve nearly four thousand children daily and employ ## staff members. The Kaleidoscope Program offers an option for Site Supervisors to be hired as full-time employees with benefits. The Mission Statement for the Kaleidoscope Program reads:
It is our mission to provide quality care for students by developing cooperative working relationships among staff, parents and school. We will operate a program founded upon interaction between staff and students while providing age-appropriate activities, which focus upon the physical, social, and educational needs of our students.
Over the past three years a curriculum guide for Kaleidoscope programs has been developed that correlates program activities with South Carolina Grade Level Learning Standards. This guide is supplemented annually and provides tangible evidence that Kaleidoscope programs are committed to enhancing academic achievement. Enrichment programs also play an important role in expanding life experiences and learning opportunities. With over ## course offerings such as Mad Science, foreign languages, computers, arts, environmental interpretation, Girls on the Run, sports, and others help make the after school experiences more rewarding. Service learning projects allow student to directly be engaged with and be part of the larger community.
Programs meet the guideline criteria established by the South Carolina State Health and Human Resources. ## % of our programs participate in the Advocates for Better Care Block Grant. This grant offers subsidies to qualified families to help defray childcare expenses. Rural Community School programs have purchased buses to transport children home from Kaleidoscope programs and other program activities. This has encouraged growth in program utilization since families do not have to worry about traveling long distances in order for their children to participate in program activities.
The Community Education Program operates ?? 21 st Century Learning Centers, now in the ?? year of operation. ?? students attend on an average daily basis. The program is working on being self-sustaining after the original grant ended in 20 ?? . Since then, the program has obtained over $350,000 in grant awards towards this goal. The 21 st Century Learning Centers has developed many partnerships with businesses, agencies, and other programs that offer in-kind assistance to help maintain sustainability. Statistics generated through the original grant show that:
- 85% of parents who had students in a 21 st Century Learning Center program increased involvement in their child's school
- 69% of program participants passed math and language arts during a program year
- 81% of participants were rated as having more positive attitude about self and school
- 92% of program participants expressed satisfaction with program services as exemplified by responses on student survey
Six Kaleidoscope programs have achieved accreditation status through the National School-Age Care Alliance. These programs act as models to levels that other programs may aspire. It is our continued goal to strive for uniformity among programs. Consolidating staff and parent handbooks, utilizing the curriculum guide, standardizing training requirements, and establishing a comprehensive wage scale have aided the program toward this goal.
Special Characteristics – The Charleston County Community Education Program is co-sponsored by the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (PRC) and Charleston County Schools. PRC funds 70% of Community School Directors salaries, Charleston County Schools provides the facilities. PRC employs a full time Community Education Coordinator to provide administrative assistance to the Community Schools. PRC also employs ?? full-time staff members to assist the Community Schools in rural areas, especially in the area of sports.
Remaining revenues needed to support all aspects of program operation are generated through program user fees. Many Community Schools offer financial contributions to schools for homework assistance, tutoring programs, and other school needs. The Community Education Program maximizes tax dollar investment in current school facilities by extending productive use of the buildings after regular hours.
Another unique feature is the geographic scope of the Charleston County School District. It encompasses over 90 square miles in area. Community Schools serve the entire area by utilizing a “feeder” system of high schools, middle, and elementary schools to deliver services.
NOMINEE EXEMPLIFIES PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Leadership – In administering the Kaleidoscope programs, staff training has been identified as a key component is maintaining quality programming. The Child Care Training Network has been established through the Adult Education Program and offers an array of age-appropriate training opportunities to child care providers throughout Charleston County. Three Community School Directors have been involved in the development and implementation of the Child Care Certificate Program offered through the Community and Family Services Department of Trident Technical College. Staff must complete a required training regimen to maintain their employment status. The Community Education Program is in the process of developing a series of online training opportunities for staff. The playground supervision training is now complete.
Community School Directors provide “outreach assistance” to other programs in the local area and within the state to help improve program quality. Several Directors volunteer as program endorsers for the National School-Age Care Alliance Accreditation System. Site Coordinators meet monthly to review and develop program goals. All staff participate in an annual evaluation process which helps assure the delivery of quality programming. The program enjoys longevity in the retention of Site Supervisors whereby turnover in these positions are low.
Interagency Cooperation and Community Involvement – Community involvement is an essential part of social development. Service learning projects have a direct impact upon children's perceptions and sense of belonging in their community. Examples of service learning opportunities include fund-raising for foster care children, Ronald McDonald House, Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscular Dystrophy. Others include Day of Caring with Trident United Way, 4-H Mini-Society, visitations at senior centers, etc. (Need more).
Partnerships with municipalities, local higher education institutions, churches, school-age advocacy groups, and businesses help bolster the program's ability to make the connection with the community –at –large. Examples of partnerships include:
- Charleston County PRC College of Charleston
- The Citadel Youth Services Charleston
- Trident Technical College Lowcountry Environmental Education Program
- USDA Feeding Program Title I Office
- Project LINK Caw Caw Interpretive Center
- Communities in Schools Life Management Center
- Recreation Departments Police and Fire Departments
- Habitat for Humanity S.C. Dept. Health, Environmental Control
- 4-H Clemson Extension Service
- AmeriCorps Local Professional Sports Franchises
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