Coming off the heels of a five-year after-school grant cycle, officials at North Callaway School District reapplied for the same grant last spring and got it, said program director Jason Smith.
"The federal 21st Century grant was originally with No Child Left Behind," said Smith, who also is a social studies teacher and head golf coach at North Callaway High School. "It's a pretty highly competitive grant we've had since 2011."
The grant to provide the five-year program was for $1.8 million - a pretty sizable chunk of change.
"In April, we reapplied and were selected again," he said of the announcement, made a few weeks ago.
The program will begin Monday before school from 7-8 a.m. and after school from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Smith said it's available to all school district students whose families are charged on a sliding scale.
"If they are on reduced lunch, they will be on a reduced fee," Smith added. "If they are on free lunch, (the program) will be free of charge. We're targeting families that are the most in need and targeting working families. It's a much better option than kids being home alone."
Students can be in any grade level to participate, Smith said.
"There will be tutoring for kids that need it, primarily math and language arts, but anything they need help with," he said. "Also, there will be lots of enrichment classes for them to take, as well as physical fitness."
Enrichment classes could include photography, cooking and learning with Legos.
"Any kid in the North Callaway district is welcome to attend," Smith said. "That includes Williamsburg school now, so all our schools are included."
He said between 150-175 students come on a regular basis. For more information, contact the school administration.