Seguin ISD is the recipient of the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education program grant to the tune of $1.7 million a year annually over five years.

Texas ACE programs aim to improve student academics, attendance, and behavior, while providing an interactive learning space for students and families who otherwise would not have such opportunities. The program is designed for communities to establish and expand activities that offer student access to academic intervention and enrichment. Other activities will be offered to reinforce and complement the regular academic program to accelerate learning while helping students meet the challenging state academic standards.

“The timing of the Texas ACE grant award could not have been better considering that our school community is recovering from the effects of the COVID pandemic. The program aims to create additional opportunities for families of participating students with active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education. This will help overcome learning gaps experienced during the 2020-2021 school year. Bolstering adult literacy is a component of Texas ACE as well,” said Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, Seguin ISD superintendent.

During the 2021-2022 school year, Seguin ISD plans to establish Texas ACE programs at the district’s seven elementary campuses and both middle schools.

“The nine Texas ACE sites will be supported by on-site coordinators who will work directly with teachers, administrators and parents. A grant director and family engagement coordinator will oversee the program throughout the grant period. The Seguin ISD ACE programs will provide high quality supplemental enrichment activities aligned with our regular academic program with a focus on creative, hands-on, and exploratory learning,” he said.

According to the Texas Education Agency, results from statewide program evaluations of Texas ACE have shown that participants, when compared with non-participants, experience higher test scores in reading/English language arts and mathematics while in grades nine through twelve; fewer disciplinary incidents while in grades six through twelve; fewer school day absences while in grades four through twelve; and an increased likelihood of grade promotion overall.

Seguin ISD’s community partners for the Texas ACE grant will include Texas Lutheran University and the City of Seguin.

More information on this federally funded grant can be found at https://bit.ly/36fjZTM.