I.K.E. Out-of-School Time Program

Dorchester County, MD

Program Summary

  • Goal: The I.K.E. Program (Inspire Knowledge and Empower), as part of the Groove City Black Heritage & Culture Group, seeks to increase access to high-quality Out of School Time (OST) programming for economically-disadvantaged elementary school age students in Cambridge, MD. GCBHCG has been operating for a number of years, demonstrating success in OST programming for middle-school children. There remains a need for increased OST programming for elementary school children. Therefore, this program is designed to further fill in this gap need for the Cambridge community.
  • Framework: GCBHCG will pilot the I.K.E. OST program, specifically for children PreK through 5th grade, with a maximum capacity of 20 students. The program will run in parallel with the Dorchester County Public Schools calendar, with an expected launch date of January 2026. The grant will be funded for 1.5 years, ending after the SY 26-27 school year. This OST program will focus on literacy improvement (reading and reading comprehension), with activities that include reading time, a Creative Learning Project, homework assistance, and experiential opportunities.
  • J2W will provide 1.5-years of funding to cover the cost of the program, with an option to renew for another fully school year.
Children displaying colorful artwork in a room.
Children painting at a community center event.
Children painting at tables in a classroom.
Children displaying colorful artwork in a room.
Children painting at a community center event.
Children painting at tables in a classroom.

J2W FOUNDATION
STRATEGY: INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY OST PROGRAMMING
DORCHESTER COUNTY, MD

Educational project overview with target demographics.

Measures of Performance

Coming Soon!

Data Analysis

  1. Goal: To pilot an Out-of-School Time (OST, or after-school and summer) program for economically-disadvantaged elementary school-aged children within the Dorchester County community.
  2. Overview: Cambridge has a significant population of low-income families, with many struggling to close the academic and socio-emotional learning achievement gaps that develop during the early childhood years and continue to widen over time. GCBHCG is a community-based organization with an education program that includes a diverse array of cultural and educational initiatives. The focus of their existing program is on fostering community engagement and development serving older youth and families in the city of Cambridge, Maryland, specifically targeting the Pine Street District, which is rich in African American history and culture. By focusing on local engagement and a younger population in this program, GCBHCG aims to create a lasting impact by strengthening the cultural fabric of the community, reducing youth illiteracy, and encouraging the development of young leaders and artists. GCBHCG has been operating for a number of years, demonstrating success in OST programming for middle-school children. There remains a need for increased OST programming for elementary school children. Therefore, this program is designed to further fill in this gap need for the Cambridge community.
  3. Measures of Performance: We will begin this project with a focus on process and output measurements, while establishing baselines for academic performance that will then be measured as growth over time. Academic programming will be performed using IXL, with indicators established after baseline testing. Initial results will be posted in in the spring 2026.
    1. Goal 1: Improve students’ ability to read and comprehend at or above grade level.
      • Outcome Indicator: 75% of participants will demonstrate reading proficiency at or above grade level by the end of the academic year.
    2. Goal 2: Increase students’ vocabulary and comprehension through art-based learning activities.
      • Outcome Indicator: Students will show a 20% increase in vocabulary test scores, as measured by their ability to decode, understand, and use new words in sentences by the end of the program.
    3. Goal 3: Enhance students' critical and creative thinking through project-based challenges.
      • Outcome Indicator: 60% of participants will exhibit improved problem-solving and communication skills, demonstrated by their ability to complete literacy-based project challenges independently.