Moulton Extended Learning Center
Moulton Extended Learning Center serves students from kindergarten to eighth grade. To meet student needs, Moulton began its transformation into a full-service community school in the 2002-2003 school year. The school is open from early in the morning until the evening and with its twelve-month calendar it provides more days of instruction than schools on a traditional school calendar.
Urban Dreams is the lead community based organization partnering with Moulton to develop this full-service community school. Urban Dreams brings to the partnership its capacity to work with underserved inner city residents. The school/lead agency partnership is addressing needs identified by the community such as positive, safe, extended day opportunities for young adolescents.
Collaborations. The full-service community school at Moulton relies on neighborhood and city-wide collaborations with eleven entities. Prominent among them are the Des Moines Health Center, Mercy College of Health Sciences, Grubb-Y, United Way and Meredith Church, the Smile Squad, and Iowa State University. In addition, individual community members volunteer at the school.
Program offerings. Full-service community school activities focus on supporting academic achievement. Fee-free activities are offered year round, after school, on Saturdays and during the summer.
After-School Program. The full-service community school offers academic support for the students and their families four nights a week in 12-week intervals
Academic programs include homework club, study tables, reading, math and science classes.
Enrichment activities include arts and crafts, cartooning, cheerleading, community garden club, computer class, drama, Girls Scouts, organized sports, tae kwon do, walking for fitness and board games.
Behavioral health and life skills programs include Black Achievers, a program for African-American youth to develop a future orientation and to build self-esteem and positive relationships with peers and with adults; and a community service team that assists school staff and members of the community.
Summer program. The full-service community school offers 4 -5 weeks of summer programming for students needing additional instruction in math and reading. The session combines academic offerings (literacy, math, arts and journaling), with enrichment (soccer, swimming and golf) and community service. All students are provided breakfast and lunch.
Health and wellness services. Through the full-service community school, and in collaboration with the Des Moines Health Center’s Smile Squad Mobile Dental Clinic, students receive dental screenings and dental treatments.
Family involvement. The full-service community school offers activities and resources to families to cope with nontraditional and intergenerational situations. Students and their families participate in intergenerational activities, planned for each grade level. Celebrations are an important element of family involvement and each quarter an Attendance and Honor Roll Assembly recognizes students and parents.
Community involvement. The full-service community school seeks people in the community to become involved with the students and to volunteer at the school.
The role of Eisenhower Foundation. The Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation provides funding, technical assistance and process and outcomes evaluations of the full-service school to the Moulton partnership.
Positive outcomes at Moulton Extended Learning Center. Evaluation findings show that the full-service community school at Moulton had a positive impact on academic achievement, satisfaction with and attachment to school, and positive relations with adults in the school.
Gwen Marshall
Site Director
Al Burrows
Principal
Contact Person
Gwen Marshall
Gwen.marshall@dmps.k12.ia.us
(515) 242-8427