The ARCH program - which stands for Academic enrichment, Recreation and the arts, Community and family services, and Healthy relationships – has been offering Kentwood students after-school learning opportunities such as field trips, guest speakers, career exploration, and other experiences for over a decade.
“We actually designed this program 15 years ago with the City of Kentwood, so the City of Kentwood has always been our partner.”
Lori Bramble-Romeo is the ARCH Project Director for Kentwood Public Schools.
“It’s a two-and-a-half-hour program during the school year and then in the summer we actually run for three and a half hours for 6 weeks in the summer.”
The program has been awarded $10.5 million in state grants from the Michigan Department of Education and the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential. The grants will be distributed in increments of $2.1 million annually over the next five years.
Bramble-Romeo says the need is huge for free programs like ARCH, which also provides meals and homework assistance.
“Some families just need after-school care, but this is just a way that we can provide another opportunity for the students to get additional support that’s needed, and they get to do other things that they wouldn’t normally get to go out and do in the community.”
