The Learning Links program, sponsored by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, offers grants of up to $1,000 per teacher to public schools. These grants are specifically designed to fund "hands-on" creative learning projects for students, aiming to foster an engaging and enriching educational experience. The program's core mission aligns with the foundation's goal of increasing students' enthusiasm for learning, promoting school retention, and ultimately supporting graduation rates. Funding for these initiatives is made possible through the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Endowment Fund and the Cherokee County Schools Foundation Endowment Fund, highlighting a collaborative effort to invest in local education.
The primary target beneficiaries of the Learning Links program are public school students in specific Western North Carolina counties: Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, and Swain. The program's impact goals center on enhancing the academic improvement of these students by providing innovative and experiential learning opportunities. By involving students in projects that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting, the program seeks to make learning more dynamic and relevant, thereby boosting their engagement and academic performance.
The program prioritizes projects that are "hands-on" in nature, ideally taking place outside the classroom or in a unique learning environment. It emphasizes the implementation of innovative, imaginative, and creative teaching approaches that enrich the overall educational experience. Crucially, all proposed projects must be aligned with the current classroom curriculum and directly contribute to the academic improvement of students. Strong applications are characterized by clearly defined and realistic project plans, avoidance of educational jargon, specific details on fund utilization, and a detailed, logical budget.
The expected outcomes of the Learning Links program include increased student enthusiasm for learning, improved school engagement, and a higher likelihood of students staying in school through graduation. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond these broad goals, the program implicitly aims for tangible improvements in student academic performance and a more positive perception of education. The foundation's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this program, focus on community development through educational enrichment, demonstrating a theory of change that posits that engaging and creative learning experiences lead to greater student success and overall community well-being.
