RCS seeking community input on After-School Grant

Rabun County Schools has maintained an exceptional after-school program for the last 10 years thanks to in part state funding via an after-school grant.

“The after-school grant is funded from the federal government through the state,” Pruitt said. “The grant is exactly what it sounds like, it allows local education agencies or even the boys and girls clubs, the grant allows them to fund an after-school or before-school program.”

According to Amy York Pruitt Director of Federal Programs Rabun County Schools, the grant is a competitive one and the district must reapply every five years to continue funding.

“Historically, Rabun County has held this grant well before I came into this position,” she said. “But I know we’ve had it for at least 10 years now. We have to reapply for it every five years.”

Pruitt said during the after-school program, not only does it allow parents working late hours to have some flexibility in their schedule, but their children are allowed the opportunity to work on homework with teachers on hand.

“During the after-school program the kids get fed, we do like a healthy supper for them. They also get fed, excise and can have language art time,” she said. “They also get STEM time. They do that every day then on Friday they get enrichment. We bring in resources from the community or they can choose what they would like to do.”

The after school grant is a competitive one according to Pruitt and only 80 schools will be selected out of nearly 115 applicants.

“The grant you have to apply for every five years. This is our last year so we will be reapplying later this month. Some of the grants at the school system, like Title One, for example, we get automatically – it’s not competitive,” she said. “This grant is competitive so we have to hope to get picked again in order to continue the after-school program.”

As part of requirements in the application process of this specific grant, Pruitt said community input is needed and if anyone is interested, to contact her.

“What the community can do if anyone is interested since the input is needed, they can contact us,” she said. “Right now, one of these requirements is to just let the community know that we are applying for it and if they have any input or comments then we can include it in the grant.”