Initiative: The Faith-Based Community Education initiative was designed to provide an additional safety net of tutoring opportunities for at-risk students as a part of the district's Eliminating the Achievement Gap Plan of Work. The initiative provides after-school tutoring, FCAT remediation, family literacy, mentoring, career exploration, and enrichment for targeted students and their families in various parts of the community allowing students to ride the bus home from school prior to the sessions. The Office of Special Projects and Programs is responsible for coordinating the instructional program, designing and providing training, and assisting faith-based and community education sites.

Goals: The goal is to increase student participation in the Extended Learning Program. This is accomplished by providing instruction in the student’s neighborhood by locating the educational program in the faith-based and community sites resulting in increased communications between schools, families, and communities.

Targeted Population: The targeted population includes at-risk students from Grades K-12 who are willing to attend an academic program in their neighborhood. Students are identified and recruited based on their academic performance and are recommended by teachers, schools, and community referrals. Each year, students on or above-average level receive additional support to enhance their achievement in advanced courses. Currently the program is offered at over 250 sites.

Timeline: The program began in 2000 and each year, the additional services begin in October and end in June. Parent information sessions, student recruitment, and community awareness initiatives occur from September through October. Program teachers and site coordinators attend training the first weeks in October with the first week of classes for students beginning in November.

Staff Development: Staff development is scheduled monthly for teachers and site directors. Topics include reading in the content areas, differentiated instruction, literacy, classroom management, CRISS strategies, Families Building Better Readers, and healthy choices. Training is coordinated by Ruth Hall, Supervisor of Special Projects and Programs.

Transferability: The students report an increase in interest in school and as a result their grades are improving. Student engagement in after-school programs transfers to student engagement in the classroom. Providing a safety net for students within the community provides a “no-excuses” opportunity to ensure that no child is left behind.

Involvement: Key community members and district staff involved in the planning and implementation of the program include Faith-based and Community Initiatives, Florida Department of Education; Office of Public Affairs, Florida Department of Education; Faith and Community Based Partnerships, Office of Prevention and Victim Services, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice; The Florida Partnership for Family Involvement in Education, University of South Florida; Institute on Black Life; many pastors and their program directors. Certified teachers provide instruction, volunteers mentor, while business and community partners and state and local agencies provide additional support in these areas.