The BASE program (Blanton After School Enrichment) at Blanton Elementary, located in the Windsor Park Neighborhood of Austin, TX has been a huge success. We are proud to claim the status of being the first Austin ISD school to ever attain complete sustainability for their after school program. After the loss of our 21st CCLC grant, the hard working parents of Blanton Elementary school created the BASE program and we have been operating since August 2018. In an effort to continue the 21st CCLC path to provide structured, safe and supervised after school learning and social interaction, BASE offers extended learning opportunities through innovative, hands on activities that reinforce and complement regular scholastic programs.
By working with community partners and parents, BASE has provided enrichment that met community needs and greatly improved academics, attendance, behavior, promotion rates, and much more. Examples of successful initiatives include “We Care” (toiletries for the homeless count), “Toy Time” (making animal toys for the ASPCA), “Cards Away” (making holiday cards for nursing homes) and “SOAR” (science, observation, active restoration, scheduled for this summer at McKinney Falls State Park)…in addition to regularly scheduled classes in music, dance, writing (handwriting and composition), visual arts, mathematics, athletics, science, gardening, scouting, and more.
BASE strives to continue with the spirit of 21st CCLC with the same type of low cost programming. With 65% of our families qualified as economically disadvantaged we do not have the ability to subsidize at full market rates. Through fundraising, grants and tuition (estimated at $25 per child per week) we need to raise a total of $90,000 to put 100 students through the program each year, including some spots designated for scholarships (we currently provide scholarships for 16 students).
All donations to this program are tax deductible.
