The REACH Afterschool Program in Skowhegan enriches low-income students' lives through diverse activities, but faces uncertainty due to potential federal budget cuts announcing consolidations in education grants.
Two years in an after-school program improves math scores by 20 percentile points. It increases attendance, it reduces behavioral suspensions and expulsions, and it closes the achievement gap between low- and high-income families
"I understand the financial hardships that not only BUSD is in, but multiple school districts are in. They're having to make hard decisions, but I still keep my fingers crossed," said Kimberly Wright-Smith, an after-school coordinator.