IMPACT MATTERS

Overcoming Educational Barriers Through the Community
Learning Center Model

Barriers to education impact every age group, from toddlers to adult learners. But United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) and our Community Partners are working to overcome these barriers and put educational achievement within reach for all schoolchildren and adults.

For example, "foster grandparent" volunteers with Volunteers of America have tutored 276 students in just the past six months, helping them increase their reading level to their current grade or higher. And 85 percent of the children enrolled in a class for 4-year-olds at Guadalupe Schools increased their school readiness by 40 percent.

But to more fully address barriers to education in our community, United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) has been developing a strategic initiative to strengthen the Community Learning Center (CLC) model within our service area. The CLC model is an integrated approach to addressing the roadblocks to learning. CLCs provide resources and services not only to students, but to entire families. By meeting the multiple needs of the family that often prevent learning--issues such as health issues, parent involvement, and school readiness--schools see an increase of student achievement and overall success.

A model CLC encompasses high-quality academics, educational, and life skill enrichment for the entire family, and social support services. This integrated focus leads to improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier, more prosperous communities.

Because CLC's take a community-wide, integrated approach to education, they can be highly successful in breaking down barriers to education, and dozens of states have developed comprehensive community learning centers. Many Utah schools have implemented some elements of the CLC model as well. For instance, Rose Park elementary school is creating a Community Learning Center with the following goals:

• children will begin school ready to learn
• students will achieve to the highest standards
• young people will become prepared for adult roles in the community
• families and neighborhoods will be safe and supportive
• parents and the whole community will be involved with the school and with life-long learning

UWSL is in the process of establishing a Technical Assistance and Resource Center to help create comprehensive community learning centers within schools in our service area. The Technical Assistance Center will help schools coordinate the elements of a CLC, provide information about best practices, work to increase public awareness, and locate existing community resources to help sustain CLCs. Over the next several months, UWSL will be conducting research on the status of CLCs in our service area and developing a strategic plan for the Technical Assistance and Resource Center.

UWSL believes that by establishing comprehensive community learning centers, we can help many more children and adults break through the barriers to education and empower them with the skills necessary for economic, personal, and civic success--creating a healthier and stronger community for us all.