Lehigh Carbon Community College’s SHINE after-school program has received 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant funding for 2019-2024 in the amount of $2.6 million.
Programs in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties will receive the funds. The federal funding is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education(PDE) via the 21st Century CLC program and was announced by State Senator John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon).
The LCCC SHINE model is a nationally recognized after-school program operating in school districts in Carbon, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties. The Carbon/Schuylkill SHINE program is administered by Lehigh Carbon Community College. More than a thousand students are involved in the SHINE programs throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.
LCCC will receive $2.6 million as part of Cohort 10 of the grant program and will use the funds to expand the SHINE after-school program in Weatherly School District, Palmerton School District and Shenandoah Valley School District, allowing it to serve an additional 175 students.
“School children in elementary and middle schools as well as high school students in the SHINE Career Academy benefit from a network of academic and social services through SHINE,” says LCCC president Dr. Ann D. Bieber. “The after-school program unifies the schools and the students’ home environment to build a foundation for students to excel. Students in the program show dramatic improvements in homework completion, school attendance, classroom behavior and academic performance.”
Under the 21st CCLC Cohort 10 grant, PDE awarded 74 new grants for a total of $22 million in 21st CCLC grant funds for 2019-24.
“Twenty-first Century Learning Centers grants provide critical investments for communities to expand educational opportunities for students and families,” Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera said. “This year’s recipients were selected with an emphasis on improving educational equity and expanding the geographic reach of Pennsylvania’s programs. As a result, more students across the state will have access to wellness, literacy, and career and technical education programs, among others.”