An after-school program that has shown impressive results more than doubled in size Thursday, thanks to a $4 million donation from Ronald McDonald House Charities.
At a news conference held at Morse Elementary School, 620 N. Sawyer Ave., Mayor Richard Daley and school officials announced the after-school program would be expanded in October to serve approximately 30,000 students at 100 schools citywide.
“As I’ve said many times over the past two years, the best way to improve student performance is to keep children away from gangs, guns and drugs and to expand after-school programs,” Daley said.
The program, aimed at schools with large student populations and poor test scores, was launched in January, and so far has provided tutoring, recreation and meals to 12,000 students at 40 schools. Of those schools, 39 showed improvements in math scores and 30 showed better results in reading.
While the Chicago schools offer a variety of after-school programs, officials said the McDonald’s-sponsored program is the most comprehensive, offering students tutoring in a variety of subjects as well as sports, arts and drama.
The announcement came a day after Atty. Gen. Janet Reno said Congress must spend more money on after-school programs.
