Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools this fall will partner on a new scholars program that will act as an academic support program.
The MarVan Scholars program will roll out in a five-year model and will give K-8 students more opportunities to extend their learning after school, largely through the use of online-based tools. The program will also work to better align the academic efforts of day-school and after-school staff.
Through the scholars program, BGCGM will provide students more time after school to complete homework and online tutoring. Students will also be able to attend daily and weekly coaching sessions led by onsite academic coordinators and educational coordinators.
Their progress will be monitored by online learning tools and other analytics.
The program will launch at four pilot MPS-based community learning centers in its first year, eventually growing to serve 33 schools. The program will serve students who are members of BGCGM at the centers, which are: Allen-Field Elementary School; Dr. Martin Luther King, J. Elementary School; Engleburg Elementary School; and Clarke Street School.
By the 2018-19 school year, BGCGM expects to be serving more than 17,000 members with the MarVan Scholars program each year.
Melinda Wyant Jansen, chief academic officer at BGCGM, will guide the development of the program. BGCGM plan to hire additional staff to facilitate the program, including an education data manager and 33 academic coaches.
The new program is made possible by a $5 million donation from Keith Mardak and his wife, Mary Vandenberg, who have been longtime supporters of BGCGM. Their gift represents the largest donation in the nonprofit’s history.
“We are extremely grateful for the support Keith and Mary have given and continue to give to our Clubs’ members,” Vincent Lyles, president and chief executive officer of BGCGM, said in an announcement. “Our goal with this new effort is to work collaboratively with schools to increase students’ time on task. Together, we will help kids reach their goals on a path to a bright future.”
