AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROPOSED; DISTRICT TO DEVELOP PLAN FOR 7 LANCASTER SCHOOLS.

Byline: John Sanders Staff Writer

Pupils would get after-school tutoring and would play sports or take part in dance or drama under a new program proposed for seven Lancaster School District campuses.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education has given the district $68,000 to make plans over the next six months for the afternoon program, which district officials say is needed because year-round class schedules leave no place to send students for summer school.

``It's our way of providing opportunities for kids that need remediation because we can't do summer school,'' Superintendent Steve Gocke said. ``The kids that aren't meeting grade level standards, we need to have a program to give them some remediation to try to catch them up.''

The district can apply for grants to launch the after-school classes after it completes the planning, in about six months. District officials do not know when they will get the money to start the classes.

The program would be offered to pupils in kindergarten through sixth grades. Sessions would run every day school is in session until approximately 6 p.m.

However, the program is not only aimed at youngsters who are falling behind academically. Kids whose parents work late or who just want to be with their friends also could attend.

``A student doesn't have to be failing to be eligible for the program because we would want them to improve no matter what level they're at,'' said Jean Varden, district coordinator of the office of development. ``This gives kids every opportunity to be successful in school.''

Of the district's 12 elementary schools, seven - Desert View, Joshua, Mariposa, El Dorado, Linda Verde, Sierra and Sunnydale - were chosen to take part because of the socioeconomic status of neighborhoods they serve.

However, Gocke said the remaining five schools - Lancaster, Lincoln, Monte Vista, Nancy Cory and Jack Northrop - will apply for grants by the end of the year.

Varden said the program could serve several thousand students.

The pupils would be tutored by what is called an ``academic coach,'' who will be specially trained in how to help kids in reading, behavioral management and group activities. Each academic coach, who need not have a teaching credential, will serve approximately 20 students.

District officials say they want to stay away from the traditional approach tutoring where the coach will work one-on-one with the students.

``We need to get away from the tutoring in the traditional sense where a kid sits there and somebody is looking over their shoulder or working right with them,'' said Varden. ``So a lot of the idea is how can we enhance learning and do it a little differently so that kids can get excited and be very involved in it.''

Some of this hands-on training might include activities in which kids write and act out skits, so they are learning language skills in addition to having fun.

Varden said that activities such as dance, drama and sports - competitive and noncompetitive - will be incorporated into the program so kids want to attend.

``We're very excited,'' Varden said. ``I think it's a great opportunity for kids to not only learn academic skills but learn social skills that are valuable.''