A three-year, $450,000 grant means that Straughn school will be able to sustain its after-school program.

Straughn Elementary School Principal Bettye Anne Older said Friday that SES and Straughn Middle School were awarded a 21st Century Learning Grant by the U.S. Department of Education in its most recent grant cycle.

Funding is given on a three-year cycle, which means Straughn will receive $150,000 a year to operate the program.

“This will cover our teachers and staff,” she said. “And allow us to maintain our needed ratio.”

The schools will finish up a three-year, $600,000 grant at the end of the month, but Older said they were only allowed to apply for the $150,000 per year.

The STEMulate Your Mind After School program is for students in kindergarten through eighth grades.

The new grant will go into effect in October.

Older said that the extended day program will still allow for students to have access to technology, homework help and other enrichment activities. A snack is also provided.

Through the program, students can receive up to 12.5 house per week of additional instruction and enrichment outside the school day, and 80 hours of instruction during the summer months through a special summer camp.

Older said students will also work on service projects as well.

Older said that tuition will stay the same, at $8 per week for part-time and $15 per week for fulltime.