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Goochland Education Foundation launches licensed 'GEF Adventures' after-school program; partners and subsidies highlighted
Summary
The Goochland Education Foundation presented GEF Adventures, a VDOE-licensed after-school program across three schools that will not turn children away for inability to pay, with subsidies and scholarships available; initial enrollment is about 40 with plans to expand.
Cindy Brown, chief executive of the Goochland Education Foundation, and Taylor Ennis, the foundation's COO, presented GEF Adventures, a VDOE-licensed after-school program that will operate at all three primary sites in the division and emphasize homework support, tutoring, remediation and enrichment.
Brown said the program is fully licensed and meets Virginia Department of Education requirements for staffing, background checks and training because it aims to be an academic enrichment program rather than simply childcare. "We are licensed. We are fully licensed," she said.
The foundation described a program built around two academic threads (literacy and math), daily schedules that include 53 minutes of large-movement activity, and staffing plans with site directors who meet VDOE credential requirements. Ennis explained the director and volunteer vetting process and that volunteers must complete the same set of background checks and fingerprinting protocols required for staff.
GEF stated it is a subsidy vendor with the Department of Social Services and has scholarship funds to ensure no child will be turned away for inability to pay. Early registration stood at about 40 students and the presenters expected roughly 50 by the school program opening; the program planned a launch event for transition day on Aug. 18 and full operation starting Aug. 19.
Community partners noted include Rotary and Chick-fil-A, which will provide support for launch events and occasional programming. Organizers asked for volunteer help and provided a website and QR code for signups.
Next steps: the program opens its transition/launch activities the week of school start and will continue to recruit staff and volunteers; school leaders and the foundation will monitor enrollment and operations.
