Congratulations!! We made it to the end of another school year. I’m sure that it’s been another year of mountain-top and valley experiences. I’ve learned to appreciate being in the valley because that’s where I obtain my lessons. I hope that as you reflect on the past year, you readily think of the times you understood why you are here. I am a proud parent this month as I celebrate the graduation of my son DJ. He has worked hard and persevered even in the face of odds and circumstances that were beyond his control. I am grateful even for the lessons I learn from him. As we watch our young people move up and beyond our grasp, take this time to plant a seed that will one day help them grow and prosper. Have a wonderful summer and we’ll catch up in September.

~Alia Henton-Williams

Director, 21st Century

Our programs at Clyde-Savannah, Lyons and North Rose-Wolcott have completed the school-year cycle and are now preparing for summer programming. 21st Century will serve well over 350 students for six weeks beginning the first week in July. Because we know that students who do not participate in some type of academics over the summer have a strong possibility of losing so much during this time, these programs fill a much-needed gap. Our programs will offer educational and recreational activities including field trips.The after-school program (which will be referred to as Extended Day as of September) at Lyons completed the awesome benches in the garden located outside the middle of our building. Walk by and take a look at their great work. Congratulations to Brianna Williams for her 1st Place victory in the Full Contact Karate Tournament.

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The Nation’s Report Card on Writing is in. Eighth and 12th grade writing scores show some slight improvements, as well as some frustrating stagnation, and racial/ethnic achievement gaps persist. Average scores on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam in writing were slightly higher than scores in 1998 and 2002. Among the results:

• The share of students performing at or above “basic achievement” is up slightly since 2002: from 85 percent to 88 percent for 8th graders, and from 74 percent to 82 percent in 12th grade.
• The percentage of students at the proficient level did not improve.
• White students continue to outperform African-American and Hispanic students by large margins at both grade levels.

**Economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez recently issued an updated version of their groundbreaking data series on income inequality in the United States. The data, which are based on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) files, are unique because they provide detailed information on income gains at the top of the income scale, extend back to 1913, and provide the first detailed look at the distribution of income in 2006.
The new data show: (more…)

The nation’s economic downturn is affecting more than prices at the gas pump and the grocery store. More and more city, county and state governments are struggling with budget shortfalls and making tough decisions about which essential services to continue and which to cut. In some communities, the budget crunch is endangering funding for afterschool programs - and forcing supporters to organize and reach out to new partners in order to keep program doors open.

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