With the loss of pandemic-era education funding, Corpus Christi ISD is preparing for the impact on learning loss recovery efforts, such as after-school programs.
The after-school program was funded by the Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports grant program. TCLAS and the third round of the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief Fund, another pandemic-era program, are nearing completion.
Next year, the district will partner with the city of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend Boys and Girls Club to take over the after-school program.
This means that while many students have the opportunity to remain on campus for educational and enrichment activities after classes, the district does not directly oversee the program.
However, the program will no longer be free to all participants.
There is currently no cost to students in the after-school program. Starting next year, fees will be on a sliding scale based on household income. Some students may be able to attend for free or at a reduced rate, while others must pay a fee.
This year, 58% of after-school students were economically disadvantaged. This means they meet the income criteria to qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The Corpus Christi ISD board heard about upcoming changes to after-school programs Monday during a presentation on how the grant money will be spent.
Trustee Alice Upshaw Hawkins said: “It's very disappointing to see this program go under.''
Upshaw-Hawkins said she would like to see if there is some way for the district to continue funding after-school programs.
“It's so important for our children to have this extra support and enrichment in their lives,” Upshaw-Hawkins said. “I think that's very necessary.”
Trustee Jaime Arredondo shared similar comments.
“This is certainly a very successful program,” Arredondo said. Superintendent Rolando Hernandez said learning loss remains a challenge for schools and the district will need to budget carefully going forward.
“In some cases, things may not be like they were last year,” Hernandez said.
In addition to the loss of pandemic-era recovery funds, districts also face other financial challenges.
This year, Corpus Christi ISD's budget included a $25.4 million deficit due to enrollment losses.
What impact has the learning recovery program had on students?
Other efforts include a Saturday school program that provided tutoring to more than 7,500 students. The district spent about $284,000 to staff the program, which held four sessions in the fall semester and two sessions in the spring semester.
According to mid-year academic improvement test data submitted to the board, 80% of elementary school students, 63% of middle school students, and 74% of high school students improved their math scores after participating in Saturday school.
Approximately 55% of students also improved their reading comprehension.
After-school programs had fewer students but offered more extensive daily tutoring.
Approximately 55 percent of students who participated in after-school programs within the district showed improvement in reading comprehension based on midterm tests. More students improved their math performance. In third grade, 88% of students improved their math performance. Among 4th graders and her 5th graders, 82% and 67%, respectively, showed gains in math at mid-grade.
The after-school program served 1,913 enrolled students from preschool through fifth grade this year. The district has programs at 18 campuses: Allen, Fannin, Hicks, Los Encinos, Moore, Travis, Yeager, Oak Park, Menger, Houston, Garcia, Berlanga, Zavala, Shaw, Metro E, Costleys, and Gibson elementary schools. was carried out. Early Childhood Development Center.
The program is staffed by certified teachers, and each campus accepts as many students as it can find. Demand for the program was high this year, with each campus having a waiting list of interested families hoping to earn a spot.
Priority was given to students with academic achievement gaps and students with working parents.
“Both achievement and growth data show that our students are making progress toward meeting the academic goals of their after-school programs,” said Amanda Cameron, CCISD Title I and State Compensatory Education Director. .
Approximately 100 students participated at Garcia Elementary School.
During the first period of the afternoon, students focus on individual instruction. The last 45 minutes of the day are spent on quality time, which includes activities such as art, martial arts, karaoke, and visits to the zoo and therapy dogs.
“We have great teachers who are very dedicated,” said Nilda McMillan, Garcia Elementary School Afterschool Program Co-Leader. “They offer a variety of academic classes to enrich regular school life.”
What will next year's after-school programs look like?
The city's Parks and Recreation Department and Coastal Bend Boys and Girls Club will offer an after-school program next year.
Currently, the city's after-school Kid Power program is implemented in more than a dozen CCISD elementary schools, and no district after-school programs are offered.
The city's program runs Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. and is intended to serve working parents who need a supervised place for their children to stay after school.
City programs offer recreational play and structured activities. This year, program fees were set at $109 per month, but scholarships were also available.
Next year, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend will also be offering services on select campuses.
Cameron said teachers will provide tutoring next year, but the district won't have much oversight of the program.
“We have been working very hard with the city and with the city and the Boys and Girls Club for a long time,” said Kimberly James, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “…With (the district's) guidance, I believe they will try to incorporate a lot of the things that we've been working on.”
James said the district was impressed with the curriculum the Boys & Girls Club plans to use with its students.
“I feel like we're moving in a good direction,” James said.
How is CCISD using end-of-pandemic and learning loss recovery funds?
This fiscal year, CCISD has appropriated more than $31 million in federal ESSER III funds. More than $14 million will be spent on learning recovery and acceleration. More than $12 million was earmarked for staff retention benefits. The remaining funds for ESSER III were budgeted for educational materials, social and emotional support, and indirect program costs.
In 2022-2023, the breakdown of ESSER III spending looked a little different, with maintenance stipends accounting for more than a third of spending. Learning recovery and acceleration accounted for 23.5%, and technology enhancements accounted for approximately 15%. The district spent more than $34.6 million in ESSER III funds last year. Approximately $3.8 million was also spent on air quality improvements that year.
Last year, we spent about $27 million, with more than $12 million of that going to our largest category that year: Learning Recovery and Acceleration.
In total, the district received more than $114 million from the federal ESSER III and state TCLAS Pandemic Recovery Grant programs.
The state TCLAS grant that funded the after-school program totaled $812,500.
“We know exactly where the money is going to make a profit,” Hernandez said. “We've seen that. We need to plan and budget like that so we can continue to provide that kind of support to our schools because our students definitely need it.” I think there is. We are not done learning recovery.”
Although the Pandemic Recovery Grant Program has expired, the district is looking forward to 2024-25 with state and federal grants under the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as career, technical, special education, and Other funding opportunities are being pursued, including educating homeless children and youth and funding accelerated learning. and teacher training programs.
“These grants are vital to support learning recovery, support teachers and deliver research-based programs,” Prime Minister Cameron said.
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