W.R.O.T.E., Inc. (We’re Reaching Out To Educate) was established in 1996 as a non-profit arm of the Housing Authority of Bowling Green responsible for developing and managing the after-school programming for HABG residents and other very low-, low- and moderate-income families in Bowling Green/Warren County, Kentucky.

The mission of W.R.O.T.E., Inc and the after-school program is to provide for students in grades K-12, a positive and safe learning environment to develop the necessary tools to increase academic performance, leadership, and lifelong learning. Western Kentucky University has partnered with W.R.O.T.E in various ways since its inception, most recently through a federally funded grant program, Just Think!, to allow for the development of a nationally significant program designed to improve the quality of education, assist students in meeting State content standards, and to contribute to the achievement of elementary and secondary students.

Through the Just Think! initiative, WKU faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students provided education, training, and enrichment to youth and caregivers at the HABG. As part of the Just Think!, a pilot program was developed cooperatively with WKU, Bowling Green Junior High, and W.R.O.T.E, to provide HABG students who had been retained at their current grade level the opportunity to advance academic and social skills so as to be promoted to the next grade. All 16 students who participated in the Intensive Center for the Advancement of Knowledge (ICAN) pilot project were promoted to the next grade, increased reading comprehension by at least one year, and showed significant progress in areas of social understanding and skill sets.

An extension of Just Think! developed when funding ran out, the Complementary Learning After-School Program (ICAN2) provides four educationally-focused academies to reduce individual risk factors such as poor academic achievement and school failure, behavioral problems at school, and inadequate personal and social skills related to school dropout. Partially funded through a three-year grant from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, ICAN2 is in its first year of service with more than 100 students participating in the program. All students participate with on-site instructors in daily reading comprehension activities including listening and responding both orally and in writing. Every student attends age-appropriate literary groups and participates in enrichment activities to support academic and social skills training. Other instruction includes:

• WeeCAN – Approximately 40 HABG children, grades K-3, participate in: language and literacy activities, math tutoring, and social skills and social expression activities.
• KidsCAN – Approximately 60 HABG children, grades 4-8, participate in: reading, math and science activities, career exploration, and social skills and expression activities.
• ICAN – Intervention for approximately 10 middle grades (6-8) students who are either failing or have been identified as at risk for failing will include the following: intensive reading, comprehension, writing, science, social studies and math-focused instruction, and social skills and social expression training activities.
• YouCAN Lead – Approximately 20 K-8 students identified as having exceptional abilities participate in enrichment activities including: language of literacy, study skills, and gifted and talented immersion in social skills and social expression.

On Monday through Thursday, WeeCAN, KidsCAN and ICAN lesson plans include individualized tutoring, homework completion assistance, literacy activities, and small group activities offered through subject-area stations rotation with enrichment activities including field trips, special presentations, etc. on Fridays.