Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram, August 17, 2009
After-school programs touted as valuable aid for area students
GEAR UP tutoring, Project ISAAC, credit recovery to benefit those who need help
by Leann Ray
STAFF WRITER
CLARKSBURG -- If tougher classes have students worried about school this year, they may want to consider an after-school program.
Four Harrison County high schools will offer GEAR UP this year, Superintendent Susan Collins said. Bridgeport will not offer the program because it didn't meet the guidelines, according to Collins.
GEAR UP is a federally funded program that Harrison County has participated in for 10 years, Collins said. The program helps children gain early awareness of college, and it is offered through Fairmont State University.
"The intent is to get students who maybe would not be going to college," Collins said.
Project ISAAC also will be offered in several schools. Also a federally-funded program, the Regional Educational Service Agency administers it.
The early-intervention project provides additional help for students who need it, Collins said.
Project ISAAC works to help students increase academic performance, as well as improving health and wellness. The program also allows students to participate in enrichment activities, such as music, art, technology, math, language, history and science projects.
Many schools also will begin to offer credit recovery sometime in the school year, Collins said. This allows students who have fallen behind an opportunity to catch up.
If a student needs to take a credit-recovery course and his or her school doesn't offer it, he or she may be able to take it through another school. Each school must take care of its own students first, before helping outside students if there's room, Collins said.
Barbour County will offer Project ISAAC at two sites to serve kindergarten through eighth-grade students, Philippi Elementary and Belington Middle School, Superintendent DeEdra Lundeen said.
GEAR UP tutoring also will be available in any of the core-subjects at Philip Barbour High School, Lundeen said.
These programs will not begin when school starts but everything should be ready within the first few weeks, Lundeen said.
Doddridge County also will offer Project ISAAC at the elementary school, as well as tutoring at both the elementary and middle school, Superintendent Janice Michels said.
Doddridge County High School also will have credit recovery, she said.
Plans aren't finalized for after-school programs in Lewis County, according to Jane Parmer, a curriculum director for the board of education.
Lewis County High School may offer tutoring and credit recovery, she said.
However, all elementary schools will offer academic programs, said Judy Coffman, curriculum director for elementary schools.
The programs will vary from school-to-school, but typically last about an hour, and run three to four days a week.
Coffman and Parmer said each school makes the decision on what to offer, and that parents should contact their child's school to find out what after-school programs are available.
Only one after-school program has been confirmed so far for Upshur County schools, said John Haymond, curriculum director for Upshur County schools, said John Haymond, curriculum director for the Upshur County Board of Education.
Buckhannon Academy Elementary school will offer Project ISAAC for the upper-level students, Haymond said.
The county is currently working toward some other after-school opportunities, as well, he said.
Calls to school officials in Taylor County were not returned.
Staff writer Leann Ray can be reached at (304) 626-1442 or by e-mail at lray@exponent-telegram.com.