Application Cover Page (Page One of Two)
Application Partnership Type¨ / Single Applicant (at least one organization proposing to serve students from a Title I school)
x / Joint Applicant (at least two organizations proposing to serve students from a Title I school)
Budget Information
Amount Requested (Summer 2009 Only) $____68000.00______
Program Information
Total Number of Students to be Served (Only one site)_34_____
Students to be served attend the following schools (add rows as needed):
School / County/School District / % Free or Reduced-price Lunch / Date School Begins
Dillon High / Dillon District #2 / 82.61
Primary Applicant Information (must be the same as the fiscal agent)
Has the applicant received 21st CCLC funding before? ¨ Yes x No; If yes, when? ______
Organization Name: / Destiny Training
County Served: / Dillon / Phone:
Fax: / (843) 667-0961
Mailing Address: / 4109 Rodanthe Circle
Florence, SC 29501
Contact Person: / Sharhonda Elmore-Rivers
Mailing Address: / 4109 Rodanthe Circle
Florence, SC 29501
Phone: / 803-347-0223 / E-mail: /
Name of Authorized Representative: / Title: Director
Sharhonda Elmore-Rivers
Signature: / Date:
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Application Cover Page (Page Two of Two)
Partnering Applicants (Memorandum of Agreement must be attached for each partner):Name of Organization: / Dillon District Two
Type of Organization: / Public School District / Phone: / (843) 774-1200
Address: / 405 West Washington Street Dillon, SC 29536
Name of Authorized Representative: / Ray Rogers
Title: / Superintendent
Signature: / Date:
Name of Organization:
Type of Organization: / Phone:
Address:
Name of Authorized Representative
Title:
Signature: / Date:
Name of Organization:
Type of Organization: / Phone:
Address:
Name of Authorized Representative:
Title:
Signature: / Date:
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Program Summary Form
Primary applicant’s name: Destiny Training
Type of organization (check the type that best characterizes the primary applicant)¨ School district
¨ Public school
¨ Private school / ¨ College/university
¨ Day-care center
x Community-based organization / ¨ Faith-based organization
¨ Government agency
¨ For-profit organization
¨ Other: ______
Types of collaborative partners (check all that apply and include a MOA for each)
x School district
¨ Public school
¨ Private school / ¨ College/university
¨ Day-care center
¨ Community-based organization / ¨ Faith-based organization
¨ Government agency
¨ For-profit organization
¨ Other: ______
Program Date Information
Program start date: / June 8, 2009 / Program end date: / July 17,2009
Days of the week the program will regularly and consistently operate (check all that apply):
xMonday / x
Tuesday / x Wednesday / x Thursday / x
Friday / o
Saturday / o
Sunday
Note: Programs must begin on or before June 8, 2009, and operate for a total of four or six weeks. Programs must operate a minimum of 6 hours per day, five days per week, for 6 weeks.
Total hours of operation per week M-F: / 30 hoursNumber of hours per day: / 7 hours
Actual hours of daily operation (for example, 3–6): / 8:30am -3:30pm
Number of weeks for Summer 2009: / 6 weeks
Please provide the following information for the Summer Site
Name: Dillon High School / Phone number: (843)774-1230Address: 1730 Highway 301 North
Site contact: Principal Lynda Cottingham / Number of students to be served at this location: 34
If this site not at school, distance in miles from school of participating students: / Days and hours of operation each week at this site: M-F from 8:30am-3:30pm
Is there a summer program currently operating at this site? Yes x No
If yes, what is the funding source(s) of the current program? How many students are currently being served? How many days per week is the existing program operating?
Proposal Narrative
I. Statement of Need
The target area for the Destiny Training Summer Program is Dillon County serving Dillon High School. This target area consists of many underprivileged children where resources are limited. Several circumstances make rural students vulnerable to poor schooling outcomes and lower educational aspirations.
Statistical data regarding free lunch recipients shows a high poverty rate. According to the E-Rate for 2008, 82.6 % were identified as low income and eligible for free or reduced lunch. Most of these students also qualify as first generation college students. In addition, the student population in Dillon District Two shows a low percentage of enrolling in a secondary institution of learning. Based on information from the Principal and Academic Counselors, the graduation rate was 72.5% which is higher than schools similar to Dillon; however, the target area school shows a substantial drop in enrollment in higher learning institutions. The 2007-2008 College Freshman report shows that Dillon District Two enrollment rate is 46%. The District report card shows that ACT scores are below the state and national averages in Reading, English, and mathematics in 2007 and 2008. From the perspective of the Dillon District Two Superintendent, he feels that this program is essential to address the issue of aspiring students to go to college and the skills needed to survive. Overall, this rural area populated with high at risk youth showing low educational aspirations can be used as the target area to provide services to low income, first generation youth to help them become educated, self supporting and responsible community citizens. The Destiny Training proposes the 21st Century Program in partnership with Dillon School District Two by implementing educational enrichment, character development and service to the students and their families.
II. Project Design
2. A&C Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation
The first goal of Destiny Training is to generate the skills and motivation necessary to enroll and succeed in a program of post-secondary education. Objective 1: By the end of week three 80% of the students will show improvement on ACT subject tests. Evaluation 1: The teachers will give the students a pre and post practice ACT test to measure improvement. Objective 2: By the end of the program 100% of the participants will explore colleges that cater to their career choices by use of computer technology. Evaluation 2: Mentor leaders will assess the students’ career and college choice project by using a rubric which is one component of the culminating portfolio of the Destiny Training requirements.
The second goal is to expose students to activities geared toward helping the community, striving for success, maintaining positive respectful lifestyles. Objective 3: By the end of the program 100% of the students will complete a male and female mentoring program. Evaluation 3: The mentor leaders will assess the student portfolios required of each gender based program by using the rubrics that indicate successful completion. Objective 4: By the end of week three, 100% of the students will travel to the county library along with their siblings to apply for a library card and participate in a family read-a -thon. Evaluation 4: Director and staff will collect reading logs of the students and their families.
The third goal is provide culturally enriching experiences through field studies. Objective 5: By the end of week six, 100% of the students will participate in four college tours. Evaluation 5: The director will keep an attendance record of those traveling on each college tour. Objective 6: During weeks four and five, 100% of the students will participate in a math and physics enrichment activity to understand real life applications. Evaluation 6: The teacher will engage students in a K’Nex roller coaster building competition and evaluate the rollercoaster by a rubric.
2. B. Service Activities
Destiny Training will provide ACT preparation classes during the first three weeks of the program. Students will be pretested using a practice ACT test from the text The Real ACT Prep Guide. Instruction will be driven by the results of the pretest. Scientifically based research from ACT briefs shows that by providing practice tests along with test taking strategies and ACT enrichment will increase student performance. The students will take a reading with English class and a Math with Science preparation class for 75 minutes each Monday-Thursday (Obj. 1). During the fourth and fifth weeks the students will participate in a discovery learning activity to integrate real life applications of applying mathematics and science by using K’Nex educational building sets. Scientifically based K’Nex education research shows that students who are able to apply hands on learning to content standards are motivated to learn and increases academic achievement. The student will use K’Nex educational sets to discover the physics and mathematics behind amusement thrill rides including roller coasters. This enrichment will be 150 minutes daily Monday-Thursday (Obj. 6).
The mentoring component consists of two gender programs, Princesses in Training and an adaptation of Princesses in Training known to be Males of Destiny. The programs will incorporate the college and career choice (Obj. 2), community service, financial planning, STD awareness, character development, etiquette, and self awareness. The community service learning project will provide a community blood drive to help support the American Red Cross. Students will solicit donors and will earn points to help with increasing their performance grade. Students will create a portfolio and a power point presentation which will serve as the culminating assessment that indicates successful completion of the mentoring program. The female students will receive a royal crown and the male students will receive a Man of Destiny medallion at the Induction and Crowning Ceremony on July 11th (Obj. 3). The ceremony will feature awards and presentations followed by a reception. These awards will be presented to students who have successfully received 80% of the points indicated on the rubric for the portfolio. The Field Studies provide enriching experiences including a tour to Midlands Evaluation Center a Juvenile Detention Center and four colleges. All college tours will take place on Fridays. The students will partake in a fine dining experience at the Cheesecake Factory to model proper etiquette in conjunction with the second college tour. Two colleges toured in state are Benedict College and Winthrop University. The other two will be out of state, one being Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, N.C. During the sixth week of the program Destiny Training will conclude with an end of summer educational experience to Chicago, Illinois. The students will engage in activities including a tour of the University of Illinois, the fourth college tour in Chicago (Obj. 5). Also they will explore the Sears Tower Sky deck, Shedds Aquarium, The Science and Industry museum with the Omnimax show and the Adler Planetarium. Students will also partake of the study of math and physics of roller coasters to Six Flags; however, funds will be raised to supplant this experience.
Destiny Training will address family literacy by allowing students and their siblings to establish membership to Dillon County Library on June 25th. All participants will check out books to compete in a family based read- a- thon. The two week read a thon will allow students and family to read during the summer program and at home. During the family literacy day staff and students along with their parents and siblings will use an hour of shared reading. The family who demonstrates the most read books will be awarded by local sponsors and the reading logs will serve as the basis for documentation of read books (Obj. 4). The families will be presented their awards at the awards ceremony.
The recreation will be provided utilizing the Dillon Wellness Center Monday-Thursday where students and staff can get in shape using the aerobics and exercising equipment. Many of students will use the courts to play basketball and other organized games. Also two Nintendo Wii bundles will be purchased to implement interactive fitness along with board games to challenge others.
Also the Program will facilitate a Parent Forum on July 2nd to inform participants of the college process including applying for financial aid and scholarships, adult education services, and health and wellness awareness, and positive parenting education.
The daily meals to students will be provided by the Dillon Pee Dee Community Action Agency. These meals are in accordance to the USDA food and nutrition regulation. Breakfast and lunch menu items are found in the appendix. All meals served are free of charge to the students and Pee Dee Community Action Agency will receive government reimbursements. Snacks will be purchased from Sam’s wholesale by staff providing baked goods along with a water or Gatorade.
III. Management
Destiny Training is an annex of the Princesses in Training founded by Sharhonda Elmore-Rivers in 2006 for Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three ( website and outline in appendix). Also established in 2008, a Faith-based Princesses in Training was established for Dillon County. Overall this nonprofit organization serves over 60 females each year to empower the minds by offering self awareness, dignity and service. The project director and the co-director/certified teacher will serve as the mentoring leaders. Both persons are highly qualified math educators with several years in Adult Education (resume in appendix). Both have several years experience working with students in the 21st Century grant afterschool programs.
Destiny Training provides the organized summer program that includes enrichment and activities that cater to help at risk youth and aspire to go to college. The Destiny Training site director will oversee all aspects of the program including: the recruitment and retention of students and families involved in the program, hiring, scheduling, and training of staff, scheduling and training volunteers; coordinating with the school district for teacher staffing, and transportation of students.
Dillon District Two will provide several state and local resources including: free use of indoor and outdoor facilities, including electricity, phone, internet, and custodial services.
Heritage Community Services will offer free awareness sessions on STD and Character development including abstinence and parenting education. These services will address the issues of our mentoring component focusing on self awareness and developing a respectful lifestyle.
The selection process begins with a detailed application that will be given to students recommended by the counselors who are not participating in school based summer athletics programs. The criteria is as follows: students who have passed HSAP and /or have a GPA above a 2.0; be a first generation aspiring college student and /or low income family member with academic potential. Upon receipt of recommended students an interest meeting will occur and the applications will be disseminated.