ABOUT OUR 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM
Over the past four years, the Cliffside Park School District has collaborated with outstanding partners to implement the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant to increase the academic achievement of our extremely diverse student population enrolled in School #3, School #6 and Cliffside Park High School. In each participating school, the percentage of students speaking a language other than English at home exceeds 65% and the percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch is as high as 65% as well. The combination of limited English literacy and high poverty creates overwhelming obstacles to student success.
Through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant, the district has addressed these obstacles by partnering with neighboring Palisades Park School District and Jewish Family Service of Bergen County. Together our consortium has offered out of school programs that address the emotional, social, physical and academic needs of students and their families. Once again, in Year V, innovative before school, after school, evening, and summer programs will challenge students and parents to improve their literacy, develop character and citizenship and become active partners in the educational process.
CPSD will also continue to collaborate Rutgers Center for Math Science and Computer Education to offer more professional development to assist teachers with transforming daily lesson plans to fully engage all students. From differentiated instruction to technology integration, teachers are designing new lessons to appeal to all learners. This teacher training will now focus on assisting students with developing the higher order literacy skills needed to address word problems and standardized writing assessments.
In Year V, CPSD will continue to expand its literacy programs with Cliffside Park Public Library and increase the focus on math and science proficiency as well. Through an expanded partnership with New Directions for Excellence in Education, the involved schools will implement the Balanced Literacy Initiative. Meanwhile, at the high school, the district will also expand participation in the Project First Robotics Program to offer applied math and science opportunities to participating students.
Overall, in the final year of the CPSD 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant, the district will strive to build upon our previous successes to continue to strengthen our partnerships to address the needs of our students and their families.