Supervised homework assistance, academic enrichment, nutritional snacks, and fun activities afterschool for K-8 students in Sumner County. UNITY LEARNING CENTER is an extended learning day program at 15 K-12 schools in Sumner County. Specialty summer camps are held in June for students at most elementary and middle school sites. The program responds to the identified needs of our community, most specifically underachievement in Math, Science, Reading/Language; high rates of violence and substance abuse; rural isolation; low neighborhood attachment; lack of parent support and involvement; high rates of poverty; and, discipline problems. UNITY is a collaborative effort among the school system, community organizations, and parents and volunteers that serve a minimum of 2,000 students from “high need” schools in Sumner County. UNITY has three primary goals: (1) to increase students’ abilities to achieve at national and state standards in Math, Science, Language, and Reading; (2) to reduce the number of students involved in self-destructive behaviors, such as alcohol and drugs and violence; and, (3) to increase parent and family support and community involvement at each school site. These goals are met through a program that includes a strong connection with classroom teachers and an assessment of each student’s individual strengths and challenges. Students are able to participate in experiential activities that support academic achievement. These activities include a strong technology component, the arts, service learning, counseling, and various other non-traditional methods. The intended outcomes for the program reflect the accomplishment of the goals and are measured through increases in Terra Nova test scores, attendance rates, positive behavioral changes, and decreases in positive attitudes towards alcohol, to***co, and other drug use.
