Chicago Public Schools says it will be pouring more money into the two-year-old Safe Haven, Safe Summer program.
The program last year received $250,000 in funding and served about 1,000 kids, said CPS officials. This year, CPS, which is facing a $720 million deficit, will use $975,000 in remaining American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars to serve 5,000 students, said CPS spokeswoman Becky Carroll.
The program, a summer partnership between churches and Chicago Public Schools, will allow 100 churches across the city to open their doors from June 27 to Aug. 5 and provide activities for kids.
The churches will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on weekdays.
The program began in 2009 during winter school break. Community activist Rev. Ira Acree said last summer his church helped 50 students. The students learned conflict resolution, were paired up with volunteer mentors and many students “had their grades skyrocket,” he said.
