Flickinger Learning Center

After School Program

The after school program is for Academically and behaviorally at-risk children in our community.

Students in our program practice reading and math skills in a positive and supportive environment that is conducive to learning. We also provide a substantial snack, movement breaks and specialized classes such as arts & crafts, financial literacy, STEM, and social skills.

When a child shows up for school, and is not physically and mentally ready to learn, he or she never catches up.C. Everett Koop

 

The main site will accept children from any of the elementary schools in Muscatine in the k-5th grade age range.

 

Studies confirm that children who suffer from hunger have difficulty concentrating and learning. At Flickinger Learning Center, we tackle both problems at the same time believing to educate them, we must first cater to their most basic needs. Each program day begins with a movement break and snack.

 

Program Locations:

Non-school, K-5:
Monday – Thursday 3:15 pm – 5:15 pm

In-school:
Monday – Thursday 3:15 pm – 5:15 pm

No program when public school is either dismissed early or closed.


Our Goals

The After-school Program goal is to dramatically increase the engagement of the children of our district. By taking action now, we expect an immediate impact in these children’s lives and accomplishments.

  • Maintain our current growth rates of approximately 10% faster in reading
  • Increase family involvement and available educational opportunities
  • Increase community awareness and involvement
  • Increase attendance and engagement for students in the school environment
  • Decrease behavioral referrals

We also promote duplication of our After-School Program. The new in-school locations are the first step in that process.

Children in the program receive:

  • Tutoring
  • Homework help
  • Support and encouragement from adult mentors
  • a snack and movement break every day
  • A safe and fun learning environment

 

After-School Program Community Need

Local Need

  • Poverty rates for the school district show the Jefferson School area to have the highest poverty rate in Muscatine with 84% of the 350 Jefferson families eligible for free and reduced meals in this low income neighborhood. (Source: Annual State of Education Report 2009. Iowa Department of Education)
  • 100% of the children enrolled have no other free after-school program in their school’s neighborhood.
  • Muscatine School District is currently averaging an 85% graduation rate.

Who We Serve

Our main center serves a group of diverse, at-risk students in kindergarten through 5th grade. These students come primarily from, but not limited to, Jefferson School. Children are considered at risk because of factors such as single parent families, domestic violence, child abuse, drug or alcohol abuse in the home, criminal incidents, minority status, and socio-economic status. We do not assess children for placement, but recognize the school’s designation and the state’s designation of the Jefferson School area as the highest at-risk neighborhood in Muscatine. According to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, the Jefferson School neighborhood, with a population of 3,099 people, 1300 households, and 671 families, is the most economically depressed area of Muscatine. Out of 1,423 total housing units, there are 549 owner-occupied homes compared to 759 renter-occupied units, and 115 units stand empty. The ratio of renters to owners far exceeds any other tract in Muscatine. It is an indicator of lack of resources, i.e. cash flow. The Jefferson school area has a 21.68% minority population, and 40% of families live below the poverty line.

The Afterschool Alliance provided these national statistics:

  • 19.4 million kids would participate in an afterschool program if one were available to them.
  • 11 million kids are on their own in the hours after school.
  • 23 million parents of school-age children work outside the home full time.

Community Cost of High School Drop Outs

The potential cost savings for the community, per student who does not drop out of school, per year for 40 years is $300,000. This cost is based on lower rates of welfare, criminal justice, and health care to the taxpayers. The potential for each student who completes four years of post-secondary over non high school graduation is $2,500,000 of additional lifetime income. The potential cost savings for the school district in raising its graduation rate is $8,000 per at-risk student per year. The potential for the increase in quality of a literate contributing member of the community living outside of poverty is inestimable.

 

After-School Program Results

  • Students at the Flickinger Learning Center are improving their mathematics scores at a rate approaching 19% more than comparable non-Flickinger students and 10% in DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) raw words per minute reading abilities. For all about DIBELS, click here.
  • The number of individual students served during 2012 was 85, averaging 42 students per day, five days per week. The children served were in Kindergarten through 5th grade. One hundred percent of the children served are from Muscatine. Jefferson School accounts for 70% of the students attending and 20% are from Washington School.

Muscatine Community School District says: (in the 2015-2016 school year), Flickinger Learning Center provided afterschool programming at Franklin Elementary to 13 students identified as at risk (based on two or more indicators) and were below benchmark on reading. Data showed that:

  • In the fall, the students read on average 31 words per minute. By spring, they averaged 80 words per minute.
  • One 2nd grade student began the fall reading only 11 words per minute. By the spring, this student was reading 109 words per minute.
  • 3 students had behavior concerns in the classroom. After participating in the program, their frustration level decreased significantly, their peer relationships improved, and they were more engaged in the classroom.

2015-2016 School Year Accelerated Reading Program Results, showing reading ability relative to standard reading level

Location Students School Year Start School Year End
In Schools
Franklin   8   7 above 80%, 1 below   7 at level, 0 below
Grant 10 10 above 80%, 0 below   9 at level, 1 below
Jefferson 12   9 above 80%, 3 below 12 at level, 0 below
Madison 16 13 above 80%, 3 below 13 at level, 3 below
McKinley 12 12 above 80%, 0 below 12 at level, 0 below
Washington 16 15 above 80%, 1 below 16 at level, 0 below
Flickinger Learning Center
Main 23 15 above 80%, 8 below 16 at level, 7 below
SVBC 17 14 above 80%, 3 below 14 at level, 3 below
All Students
Totals 114 95 above 80%, 19 below 99 at level, 15 below
Percentages 83% above 80%,17% below 87% at level, 13% below

Our 2016 funded cost per student is $994.00. This figure is calculated by taking our total operating expenses divided by our total number of students served during 2016 of 240. This figure compares favorably to our 2011 cost per student of $961.96 and to our 2012 funded cost per student of $1,119.56. It should be noted that we receive tens of thousands of dollars in non-cash contributions on an annual basis including supplies from NAEIR and donations from community members that help to keep the cost per student very low.