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Above Photo: ( Participants in meeting at The Lighthouse with KY Department of Education and US Department of Education )
Front Row :( L-R ) Karen Evans ( Familiy Resource Coordinator,  Newburg Middle School ), Clarissa McKithen ( US DOE ) Carol McElvain ( US DOE )
Nancy Parker ( Lighthouse Activities Director ) Linda Robinson ( KY Dept.of Ed ) Judy Kirkpatrick, ( Lighthouse Advisory Council ) Bob Farrar, ( Lighthouse Promise )
Back Row: ( L-R) Lea Lewis ( KY Dept of Ed.) Dr. Ophelia Scott ( Lighthouse Director ) Chris  Watts ( Family Resource Coordinator , Price Elementary ), Amanda Clyburn ( US DOE ) (not in photo )

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VISIT TO LIGHTHOUSE PROMISE

 When the US Department of Education planned an observation trip to Kentucky, it asked the Kentucky Department of Education to arrange a visit to Lighthouse.  There were two reasons.  First, the US DOE wanted to observe firsthand the success Lighthouse has been having working with “at risk children”.  Second, Lighthouse is one of only a handful of “Faith Based” organizations throughout the entire country who qualified and were named 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The US DOE wanted to visit a “Faith Based”  organization in operation and see how it is run.

Three managers/monitors from the US DOE accompanied by 2 managers /monitors from the Kentucky Department of Education came to lighthouse on May 31.  After a visit to the Lighthouse grounds and a tour of the new Lighthouse building it was time for questions and answers.  US DOE asked Lighthouse questions about every aspect of its operation.  These were fielded by Lighthouse Staff, Lighthouse Volunteers, and Family Resource Teachers/coordinators from the Target Schools that Lighthouse serves.

The US DOE as well as the KDE were very enthusiastic and gave high praise to the Lighthouse programs.  One item on their reports was that there were “no deficiencies”.  This is the same as getting a grade of A+.

 The US DOE and the KDE are very supportive of Lighthouse programs, and of Lighthouse future plans which include GED programs and Work Force Development Programs.  These will help the adults in the community to be prepared to handle more than menial jobs.  Now that the new building provides space to work with increased numbers of children the desire of US DOE and KDE is for Lighthouse to increase the number of children and adults served as rapidly as Lighthouse can increase staff and volunteers to handle the larger number.  With Lighthouse old building 68 was the maximum number that could be worked with at one time.  With the new building, our summer program starting June 27 will  handle 80 or more children.  The fall program will work with over 100 children.  These numbers will continue to grow until the new building is full.  The number of adults will be in addition to these figures. 

 
The programs at Lighthouse are available and of benefit to the entire community.  Our center is open to all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, special needs, or religious preferences.  In order to meet the needs of the community, Lighthouse offers all programs and services free of charge.  Additionally Lighthouse offers free shuttle services between facility and participant’s residences as needed