MSCR will receive 21st Century Learning Center (CLC) grants from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for valuable after school programming. Glendale and Hawthorne will receive new grants in the amount of $75,000/year for five years, and Lake View, Lincoln and Wright will receive continuation grants of $75,000 the first year and $50,000 for second and third years.

MSCR has administered 21st CLC grants since 1999. This year MSCR served more than 10,700 children in a variety of elementary after school programs — providing children opportunities for recreation, social development, enrichment, and additional academic support. CLC programs enhance physical and cognitive capabilities and build self-esteem, foster teamwork and build cooperation skills among children. In previous grant cycles, students who regularly attended after school academic clubs increased math grades 39% and reading grades 48%.

CLC programs at elementary schools provide a variety of engaging clubs such as Culture Club, Nature Nuts, Spanish, Math Partners, Reading Buddies, Healthy Self, Games Galore, Cool Science, Ski Club and Kids on the Run along with family nights featuring math and reading activities.

Wright CLC serves about 85 percent of students enrolled at James C. Wright Middle School. MSCR maintains a strong partnership with MATC and the Minority Career Awareness Project which serves on average 75 students daily. Additionally, MSCR offers after school clubs and sports such as skateboard club, horseback riding, drill team, basketball and flag football.

At Wright this year, MSCR offered BOOST (Bringing Our Outstanding Students Together) on Saturdays to assist 8th grade students with their transition to high school. BOOST provides academic instruction in literacy and math along with a variety of recreational and enrichment mini-courses.

Recent parent surveys indicated that more than 90 percent strongly liked MSCR after school programs. Feedback from schools has also been positive.