Ark Way Learning Center

Welcome

Founded in 1999 by members of Greenhaven Neighborhood Church, Ark Way Learning Center responds to the needs of 'latch key' and 'at-risk' elementary school children in the Pocket/Greenhaven area of Sacramento. The Learning Center seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment for students to acquire tools for educational development. Ark Way Learning Center facilitates individual and group tutoring activities to enhance children's academic skills and help them develop strong character to meet the challenges of life.

A successful partnership between Ark Way Learning Center, Greenhaven Neighborhood Church, Caroline Wenzel Elementary School, Wenzel/Bidwell Healthy Start, John F. Kennedy Sr. High School and AmeriCorps has provided a strong basis for an expanding after-school program serving local families who might not otherwise have access to excellent academic assistance outside of school. Students have been attending AWLC for four years, with overwhelmingly positive results for the children. Most notably, students at the Learning Center increased their reading fluency scores last year by up to four times that of their classmates who didn't attend the Learning Center.

Tutors and students work in small groups, giving individualized attention to students with no more than four students to one tutor; students who are easily distracted or need extra help receive priority for one-on-one tutoring when volunteer numbers allow. Last year's expanded program ran four days per week, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Students have snack, receive homework assistance, have a brief recreation, a 20-minute reading intervention, and character development or enrichment activities.