The grant will provide enrichment activities and learning opportunities to up to 150 Charter School of New Castle elementary and middle school students.

The partnership’s work is being funded through a $400,000 annual grant award from the 21^stCentury Community Learning Centers (21^stCLLC) program, a competitive federal grant program administered in Delaware by the State Department of Education. This annual 21^stCLLC funding is available for up to five years.

“Summer learning loss is a serious barrier to equal educational opportunities,”said County Executive Matt Meyer. “The $2 million grant announced today will make a difference. Our kids matter, and their success matters.”

The grant, with a total value of $2 million, is the largest programming grant received in the history of New Castle County.

The partnership established a year-round program, including a full day summer session and afterschool programming during the academic year.

The 7-week full day summer program will attack the “summer academic slump”through math and language arts instruction, STEM education, reading and literacy support and character development programming at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center, along with recreational and character development activities at the Bear and Western YMCA branches summer day camps.

During the school year, the afterschool program will include tutoring and homework assistance, reading and literacy support, opportunities in drama, art, tutoring, mentoring, leadership, club and interscholastic sports and more at the Charter School of New Castle’s campus on Lukens Drive and the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center during four afternoons each week.