A Day with Partners for Change: Visiting 21st Century Programs Across Three School Districts
KYOSA recently had the incredible opportunity to visit three 21st Century Community Learning Center programs across three different school districts, all supported by Partners for Change (PFC). From Newport to Ludlow, these site visits offered an up-close look at the meaningful, high-quality work happening every day for students and families in our communities.
The visits took KYOSA to Glenn O. Swing Elementary, where the focus was observing WIN (What I Need) Time in action, a personalized academic support model that meets each student exactly where they are. From there, the team headed to Newport Intermediate to observe enrichment activities and the program's popular Running Club, and wrapped up at Ludlow High School, where students were engaged in enrichment programming and full of energy for their exciting Derby Day activity. Each visit offered a unique glimpse into the creativity, structure, and student-centered culture that defines these programs.
At the heart of every great program are the people who show up every single day to make it happen, and that is certainly true here. The on-the-ground site coordinators and program staff bring an extraordinary level of dedication, passion, and care to their work, and it shows in the students they serve. Their commitment to building safe, engaging, and enriching environments deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
The framework that Partners for Change brings to each of these programs is both intentional and comprehensive. PFC partners directly with school districts to deliver afterschool and summer programming, with afterschool running 2.5 hours, Monday through Thursday, providing the consistency students need to thrive. Students receive daily academic support from certified teaching staff, who are compensated in a way that values and incentivizes their expertise and dedication. Academic support is personalized through WIN Time, ensuring every student gets what they need, when they need it. Academics are paired with rich youth development and enrichment opportunities, where students can choose from art, science, music, yoga, health and wellness, and more. High-quality summer programming rounds out the model with a continued focus on reading, math, and enrichment.
The results of this work speak for themselves. At Glenn O. Swing Elementary, the program boasts a remarkable 98 percent parent engagement rate, with close to a quarter of the student body enrolled in afterschool programming, a powerful testament to the trust and investment families have placed in the program and its staff.
