The Wal-Mart Foundation Donates $50,000 to Para Los Niņos After-school Program
PLN Program Gets High Marks From LAUSD
The Para Los Niños After-school Program is motivating children to attend school and is helping them to raise their test scores, according to data recently released by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
According to LAUSD evaluators, fourth and fifth graders participating in the Para Los Niños After-school Program scored an average of 4 points higher than predicted by the evaluators on the California English Language Arts test. The evaluators point to this achievement as a “value added” by our program.
In addition, the Para Los Niños program had the highest attendance rate of all after-school providers at LAUSD elementary schools. This demonstrates that the students and their families appreciate the high quality of service our program provides – including low teacher/student ratios, dedicated staff, our unique values curriculum, arts and fitness enrichments, and linkages to our comprehensive family and mental health services. These services translate into high program attendance, which in turn increases school-day attendance and academic performance.
The positive reviews go behond the children and their families -- Para Los Niños scored above average among after-school providers in a survey of principals at participating schools.
After-school programs like that at the elementary schools provided by Para Los Niños exist because of the lack of educational resources and safe havens in the most impoverished areas of Los Angeles. The after-school hours have been proven to be the most dangerous for inner-city youth – a time when they are at greatest risk of gang involvement, substance abuse, and early sexual activity. Para Los Niños helps children overcome these obstacles and succeed in school by providing our after-school services to 1,900 low-income students, ages 5 to 18 years, at ten LAUSD elementary and middle schools, as well as at Para Los Niños Charter Elementary School and Charter Middle School.
The achievements of the PLN After-school Program are only made possible through generous private donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals. Para Los Niños thanks The Wal-Mart Foundation for its grant of $50,000 in support of our After-school Program. Please join The Wal-Mart Foundation in supporting Para Los Niños’ After-school Program by going to our home page and clicking on “Make a Donation.”
Fast Facts
In 2007, over 583,000 people in Los Angeles County lived in extreme poverty
------
87% of children of immigrant families in Los Angeles County are U.S. citizens
