Wheatley Courts 2017 Annual Report
USI’s Education Liaisons have met with nearly all partner organizations to discuss shared accountability and develop action plans for the final year of the grant. Education strategies for target resident youth will be focused on improving reading levels and increasing literacy and learning at home.
Updates
Early Childhood.
2018 Goal – Increase enrollment in formal early childcare programs or settings by 70% in order to prepare children for kindergarten. As of 3/31/18, there are 43 children in this target population of which 51% or 22 are participating in center-based or formal early learning settings. Urban Strategies has worked closely with parents to encourage them to enroll their children in quality early learning programs. Case managers have met with residents to share information related to applications and enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year to include Early Head Start, Head Start, PreK4SA and SAISD School Choice programs. For the 2018-2019 school year, Urban Strategies has identified school eligibility for the following age groups: (12) 3-year olds eligible for Head Start; (9) 4-year olds eligible for Head Start or Pre-K; (8) 5-year olds eligible for Kindergarten.
School-aged Youth.
2018 Goal – Improve access to positive youth development activities by 75%. As of 3/31/18, there are 166 youth in this target population of which we have successfully obtained updates from 138 of school-aged youth. 63% or 87 are participating in positive youth development activities.
The Roadrunner Readers tutoring program ended on April 5, 2018. There were 19 students in attendance who were recognized by their tutors. All children received certificates. Parents, UTSA staff, UTSA college students and Urban Strategies staff were in attendance to support the students. The program will resume as a Summer Inquiry Camp in July 2018 and will serve 25-30, first – 6th-grade students.
Teen Ambassadors.
2018 Goal – Strengthen college and career pathways for teenagers. Urban Strategies will host monthly engagement opportunities to expose the high school population to agencies and services for higher education or workforce. On April 5, 2018, Urban Strategies worked in partnership with Bexar County Bibliotech to host a public speaking event by award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds. Nearly 200 individuals were in attendance to include students from multiple schools. Urban Strategies facilitated transportation for students from Jeff Davis Middle School and Sam Houston High School to attend the event. After the public event, Urban Strategies hosted a private dinner with 10 neighborhood teens and the author. Youth had an opportunity to ask questions about his career as an author and establish camaraderie amongst each other. All teens in attendance received an autographed book from Jason Reynolds and committed to read the story.
July 2018 Calendar
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