Project Grant 21SFGAR003

THE SEARK EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVE SERVES 13 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 9 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. THE SEARK FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM, SPONSORED AND HOUSED AT THE COOPERATIVE, PROVIDES SENIOR VOLUNTEERS TO AREA SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. ACTIVITIES THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN WILL BE BASED ON STUDENT NEEDS AS DETERMINED BY IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND NEEDS OF CHILDREN AS DETERMINED BY THE FGP CARE PLAN ASSESSMENT TOOL. AN ESTIMATED 85 AMERICORPS SENIORS FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE 75 VSYS PROJECTED ARE PRODUCED. OF THIS NUMBER 85 AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE READING TO CHILDREN, LISTENING TO CHILDREN READ, WORKING ON RECOGNIZING COLORS AND NUMBERS AND PRESCHOOL FINE MOTOR SKILLS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE 3-YEAR GRANT, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 80% OF CHILDREN SERVED WILL BE ON APPROPRIATE GRADE LEVEL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET FOR THEIR CHRONOLOGICAL AGE. THE AMERICORPS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $ 484,967 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $118,337.