HOLLAND — A pair of programs at Hope College serving elementary and middle school students will again have expanded participation this summer, thanks to a state grant.
The college’s “Children’s After School Achievement” and “Step Up” programs received a grant of $87,000 from the Michigan Department of Education’s Out-of-School Time Initiative. The funds will allow Hope to continue enhanced services that started last summer through a similar grant.
“The CASA and Step Up summer sessions complement a student’s academic-year learning, with subject areas including math, literacy and science, as well as provide individualized attention and personal enrichment and well-being to help offset ‘summer slide’ and prepare them for the year ahead,” Kate Lozon, who directs CASA and Step Up, said.
“Our programs are made possible by generous contributions from community partners, and we are grateful that we can extend their impact.”
CASA serves students in grades 1-5, while Step Up is for students in grades 6-8. The programs — along with Hope College’s TRIO Upward Bound, which serves high school students — focus on enhancing academic achievement. Each program runs throughout the school year in addition to summer programming.