The Right Stuff Creating a facility isn’t enough to turn a community around. Successful communities are built through a combination of a great learning environment and great learning opportunities.
“What most parents and their kids need when they are looking for support is confidence and acceptance,” explains Marilyn Lowrey, consulting educator with Teaching That Makes Sense, a national education consulting firm based in Chapel Hill, N.C. “Above all, they need to know that they are not bad people just because they might not be well-educated.
“They need to feel that they can learn things,” adds Lowrey, a former classroom teacher and Title I director for the Independence, Mo., schools. (Title I is a federal program designed to promote better achievement among disadvantaged students.) “And they need to feel that you care enough about them to meet their unique needs. Don’t forget that the reason they’re coming to the learning center is to get special attention they can’t get anywhere else.”
Competitive Advantage At Clipper Cove, a 384-unit community owned by the National Housing Partnership Foundation and managed by Corcoran Jennison Management, learning center programs create a competitive advantage.
“It’s an additional marketing tool,” says Darlesa Brown, property manager for the Boynton Beach, Fla., community. The center’s programming, which includes after-school care and tutoring as well as other classes, is a particularly appealing amenity for working parents who often struggle to find affordable care for their school-age children.
Residents are charged $48 per month per child enrolled in the youth program, far less than rates for similar off-site programs. Currently 23 children participate. The learning center’s annual budget, including staff and supplies, is $80,000.
“The majority of comparative properties in the submarket area have more updated, luxury qualities,” she says. “This helps us to stay competitive.”