Free assistance for kids fighting ‘COVID slide’

MARTIN COUNTY—The virus, lockdown and transition to virtual classrooms limited many children’s opportunities to learn. Now, those limits are about to come off.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County’s AmeriCorps members are making sure children particularly vulnerable to potential long-term achievement gaps get the academic help they need—for free.

In partnership with the Martin County School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County (BGCMC) is launching No Limit Learning Centers in Hobe Sound, Port Salerno and East Stuart for students in k-5^th grades.

“Virtually every adult has endured at least some degree of difficulty during this crisis, so imagine how much more challenging it is for a young child to go through,” says Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, CEO of BGCMC. “Many of the children in our clubs experience hectic home environments, which were enhanced by the pandemic, so the familiar routine of school and our clubs afterschool were the only routine they knew. After the shutdown, little wonder many are struggling academically. But with time, attention and informed instruction—in a safe, fun, one-on-one environment—they can get back to where they were, and go beyond what they ever imagined.”

Observing safe, socially distanced practices, AmeriCorps members will provide personalized academic interventions—balanced with the personal enrichment programs kids enjoy in traditional BGCMC clubs.

Available from school dismissal to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, No Limit Learning offers tutoring tailored to each child’s academic needs—thanks to a data-sharing partnership with the school district that provides real-time insights on their performances. The kids can also enjoy STEM, robotics, arts, sports and recreation. Thanks to the Florida Department of Health’s Child Care Food Program* each student receives daily a snack and dinner for free.

No Limit Learning locations include:

·      J.D. Parker Elementary, 1050 S.E. 10^th St., Stuart. (To register: 772-486-1143.)

·      Port Salerno Elementary, 3260 S.E. Lionel Terrace, Stuart. (To register: 772-341-9658.)

·      First United Methodist Church, 10100 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound. (To register: 772-285-8330.)

In addition, BGCMC provides free transportation for students from Hobe Sound Elementary and Seawind Elementary to the First United location.

AmeriCorps Members also serve in five Martin County middle schools, providing whole-school support through academic interventions and mentoring students in need of extra attention. Even when the virus forestalled the original August launch date, district and BGCMC leadership persisted, refusing to let the pandemic further slow strides made in literacy.

Thanks to these programs, elementary schools in 2019-2020 saw as many as 96 percent of students in the AmeriCorps Elementary Literacy Program improve in one or more English Language Arts (ELA) domains on their iReady mid-year assessments.

In middle schools in 2019-2020, AmeriCorps interventions helped:

·      86 percent of students maintain or improve math grades;

·      81 percent maintain or improve ELA grades;

·      91 percent maintain or improve behavior referrals.

No Limit Learning Centers ensures continued literacy interventions at select elementary schools—and opportunities for similar successes.

Pre-crisis, BGCMC’s AmeriCorps members served as mentors in five elementary five and middle schools. When the virus emerged, the economy stopped and many jobs froze, AmeriCorps members served in BGCMC’s emergency food-relief operation. Every day for four months, they served more than 100,000 free, ready-to-eat meals to children and families in need at stations around the county.

In April, BGCMC created and launched Club Connect, enabling vital mentorship and homework help to children contending with the stress and social isolation of the shutdown. Insights from such interactions alerted BGCMC to the members’ emotional as well as scholastic troubles. In response, BGCMC sharpened plans to position AmeriCorps members to make a maximum impact once schools reopened.  

“Club Connect was a life preserver for many kids,” says Fletcher, “and it also confirmed our intents to hone a program such as this to provide individualized attention and help get them academically back on track as quickly as possible. Emotionally and educationally, this is a critical period for countless kids across our county. There’s a lot of lost time to be made up, so we refuse to waste even a moment addressing it.”

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County

For 30 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County has provided award-winning programs designed to guide and inspire young people ages 6-18 to learn, grow and mature in route to becoming successful adults. Each of the four clubs enjoys strong partnerships with local schools and communities. Such cohesion ensures that Boys & Girls Clubs’ programs complement and enrich the curriculum our members learn in class as well as remain attuned to the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-to-day basis. The clubs offer opportunities for fun, fitness, S.T.E.A.M. activities and certified teacher work with club members on everything from tutoring and homework help to specialized courses that prepare them for careers in a variety of trades.

*In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.