VOCM After School Program-Last Day Pizza Party – Celebration of Students’ hard work and for students graduating to 4th Grade Jackson Mississippi

VOCM sponsored an after school program (See link Youth Leadership Development) for 3^rd graders at Pecan Park Elementary School in west Jackson. This year was the first year that all 3^rd graders in the state of Mississippi had to pass the 3^rd grade gateway test.  We provided funding for 3 teachers and 3 assistants to work four afternoons a week with 25 students who were struggling in reading and math.  13 or 52%of our students passed the test.  The remaining students have 2 additional chances to prepare for and pass this test and graduate to fourth grade.  Although we would have liked to have had a higher percentage, we recognize that most of the ones who passed would not have done so without the extra help.