Arlee Life-

The Arlee School K - 8, in collaboration with the Arlee High School and a host of community organizations, is implementing a 21st Century Learning Centers Program following our funding notification on December 19th, 2002. The program has been developed in response to the Arlee Schools’ Strategic Plan and will be a central feature of the Arlee District Five Year Comprehensive Education Plan under development at this time. Activities include a blended program of after school tutoring and enrichment activities and rich summer programs for students K-12 braided together under the conceptual umbrella of the Arlee Life-Long Learning Center.

The services of the Arlee Life-Long Learning Center include:

1) After School Tutorial Support by certified teachers familiar with the students and their families offered for grade level clustered groups grades 3-6 and 7-12 typically four days per week for 3 hours per day.

2) Focused after school enrichment activities including Writer’s Workshops with Writer’s in Residence, Children’s Theater, Cultural Activities and others - to draw students into after school tutoring, engage them in extended learning and provide a safe, drug free haven during the high risk after school hours from 3:30 to 7:00.

3) Summer programs including Internships, a Summer Leadership Academy, Summer Literacy Camp, College Prep Camp, Sports and Rec Programs for various targeted student groups K-12.

4) One-on-one intensive reading intervention for up to 8 first graders (currently 10 being served and next year over 20 by May) in danger of not learning to read using the renowned Reading Recovery model in an after school setting while providing professional development for a minimum of 4 teachers (currently 11)per year in the use of the Reading Recovery model.

5) Provide a unique series of highly motivational co-curricular summer activities for students focused on individual needs and aptitudes to possibly include attendance at American Indian Science and Engineering Summer Programs, Close-Up Programs, Advance Biology Desert Field Experience in southwest, Archeological Field Experience with Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Tribal Preservation Department in the Bob Marshal Wilderness and others, tailored to unique student talents and abilities.

We have identified 20 organizations in our area who act as resources to the program. We have formed partnerships with the Friends of Arlee Schools, Missoula Writing Collaborative, Missoula Children’s Theater, and Tribal Education and Tribal Preservation Departments