21st Century Community Learning Centers

Parents, we need your feedback Help us make your after-school program even better by taking this short survey »

About our program

2012 Spring Program Calendar (PDF)

The Anchorage School District, a recipient of three 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) grants from the U.S. Department of Education, currently provides after-school enrichment programs for K-8 students in core academics - homework help, tutoring, drug and abuse prevention, technology training, recreation and the arts at 13 public school facilities.

The purpose of the 21^st CCLC is to expand learning opportunities for children and their families outside of regular school hours. These programs offer strong after-school activities, which involve both schools and the community, joining together to help kids develop into healthy adults.

Our 21^st CCLC after-school programs work with public and non-profit agencies and organizations; local businesses; higher education institutions; recreational, cultural and human services organizations to:

• prepare kids for success in today's economy

• provide opportunities to try new skills, learn different ways of approaching challenges with creative solutions, work on tough subjects and achieve success

Eligible students participate in programs whose goal is to increase academic success in reading, writing and math. The Anchorage Community Education Learning Centers offer a structured supportive environment.

If you are interested in working in our program or would like further information contact Susan Williams or the coordinator at a specific site.

Program locations

Elementary schools	Coordinator	Phone
Fairview	Sharron Harris	907-742-7626
Mountain View	Denielle Baldwin	907-742-3938
Muldoon	Lisa Orr-Hickey	907-742-1491
North Star	Kathy Halverson	907-742-3856
Northwood	Maria Clyde	907-742-6819
Ptarmigan	Megan Kohler	907-742-0444
Russian Jack	Linda Wetherby	907-742-1343
Taku	Kit Greene	907-742-5960
Williwaw	Judy Shero	907-742-2014
Willow Crest	Keith Miller	907-742-1019
Wonder Park	Chelsea Higgins	907-742-1730
Middle schools	Coordinator	Phone
Begich	Jen Mickelson	907-742-0542
Charter schools	Coordinator	Phone
Alaska Native Cultural Charter	Nick Morrill	907-742-1370
21st CCLC Office	Staff	Phone
Manager	Susan Williams	907-742-4410
Admin. Assistant	Ling Green	907-742-4410

What do our kids do after the school bell rings?

A growing number of youth in Anchorage spend the hours between when school closes and parents return from work unproductively — watching television, surfing the net, hanging out with friends, and sometimes getting into trouble.

• Juvenile crime triples from 3-8 p.m. and peaks from 3-4 p.m. during the hours after school
• 28% of U.S. children live with a single working parent or two working parents
• Between 5 and 7 million, possibly as many as 15 million, "latchkey children" are home alone after school
• The most common activity for children after school is watching TV - on average 23 hours a week

Turning the after-school hours into a time when kids take on new challenges, learn new things, and find new ways to contribute to their communities, keeps kids on the path to achievement, which is the primary goal of the 21st Century Community Learning Center program.

What do after-school programs do for kids?

The after-school program provides supervised activities, including homework assistance, arts and crafts, and recreation each weekday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at all elementary sites. The program is open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade in selected schools. Children who regularly attend quality programs have:

• Better grades and conduct in school
• Better peer relations and emotional adjustment
• More academic and enrichment opportunities
• Students who spend 1-4 hours per week in extracurricular activities are 49% less likely to use drugs and 37% less likely to become teen parents

Already in Anchorage, students who attend the after-school program:

• have made academic gains
• are feeling safer 
• are turning in their homework more often 
• like school more 
• are less likely to participate in non-supervised activities

In Anchorage, teachers report that students are doing better in school. Parents are thrilled to be able to spend quality time with their children in the evening, because their homework is done with help from tutors in the after-school program.

Contact the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program at 907-742-4410 for more information about how you can participate in the after-school program in your community.