After-School Programs Will Expand For Neighborhood Kids

New Haven Public School students who don’t attend King/Robinson Interdistrict Magnet and John S. Martinez Schools but live nearby them will soon be allowed to attend afternoon programs hosted at the schools. 

That’s thanks to a state After School Grant recently awarded to the district, NHPS Chief of Youth, Family and Community Engagement Gemma Joseph Lumpkin reported during a Tuesday Board of Education Finance and Operations meeting held on Zoom.. 

Joseph Lumpkin emphasized that after-school programming is a key academic and social opportunity for New Haven public school students. The district is looking to make its programming more accessible to all of its youth, which is why it applied for the grant. 

The expanded programs are expected to begin this fall. The two plans for the programs approved Tuesday will next go to the full Board for final approval. 

“We are consistently thinking of going in a direction where we are supportive of our student and family needs for after school,” Joseph Lumpkin said. 

Traditionally NHPS after-school programs have serviced only those students enrolled at those specific schools. 

Though the district applied for three schools to receive the grant, it was awarded two. 

The grant will allow for Martinez and King/Robinson, which are both high-needs ​“Title 1” K‑8 schools, to open their doors to NHPS youth who live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Community partners will participate in offering programs.

This is the first time the district has received the grant allowing for expanding after-school programs.

Click here and here to read the full abstracts. 

Staff interested in offering supporting for these programs and families interested in signing their students up for the programs can express interest by calling the Office of Youth, Family and Community Engagement by calling 475 – 220-1900.