School officials in Davenport want to start a Harlem Children's Zone. This summer, a group of administrators, principals, and residents will begin planning a program based one in New York City. And the goal is to close the achievement gap.
T.J. Schneckloth is the Davenport School District's Director of Federal Programs and Student Support. After visiting the Harlem Children's Zone, he says the biggest, "A-ha!" moment was that community pride and empowerment are the key. First the Harlem group helped residents form block organizations which helped turn residents into homeowners.
In Davenport, Schneckloth says the school district will start with the neighborhoods around Jefferson and Madison elementaries. Other members of the children's zone group include the president of the N-double-A-C-P and two people who live in those neighborhoods. Schneckloth says one of the first things they'll do is survey the residents.
The new program will be based at J. B. Young Intermediate School which is now closed.
