After School Programs, Inc. is proud to announce new 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants for twelve schools in four Florida counties.

The after school programs in these twelve schools are federally funded, and presented in partnership with the local community. Each school site and program is customized and individualized to meet the specific needs of that school and it's community to:

• Drive improved academic performance
• Reinforce and enrich the academic program
• Incorporate services that enhance family literary development and parental involvement

And ... all 21st Century Grant Programs are free of charge!

The educational design of the program is known as “project-based learning”, an approach to teaching in which students are actively engaged in a theme-based project. Children are assigned both team-based and independent work as they delve into projects with environmental themes such as “Recyclobots”, “Space Explorers”, and “Earth Warriors”. As children explore these general themes, they develop enhanced specific cross-curricular skills in the areas of reading, writing, math, science, technology and art.

In the process of completing their projects, children hone their organizational and research skills, develop better communication with their peers and adults, andparticipate in service learning projects that enhance their community awareness. Each month, the parents of these students meet to learn how to support their children in the program at home.