Public School 137 Parent Teacher Association

80% of the students in New York who could benefit from an afterschool program are unable to participate due to availability and/or cost. This problem is especially acute in the New York City area. The PTA at the Rachel Jean Mitchell School (P.S. 137) in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn is teaming up with The Aster Initiative to bring quality after-school care to our students and families starting this Fall.

However, we need your help to make this life-changing program accessible to those in our community who need it most but cannot afford it. During the 2023/24 academic year, the Aster Initiative will provide after-school care (from 2:30 pm-6:30 pm) five days a week. Our goal is to raise $100,000 to give very deserving, but low-income students, access to the program.

Your donation will provide:

-Safe/Reliable Aftercare: Everyone deserves peace of mind when they are trying to work and raise a family.

-Improved Academic Performance/Class Participation: Studies show that attending after-school programs can improve students’ academic performance, increase class participation, and overall reduce school dropout rates.

-Leveling the playing field: By exposing ALL kids in our community to a variety of activities, like physical education and STEM, everyone will access the same opportunities to grow and learn- regardless of income.

More about PS 137:

We are a Title 1 elementary school, meaning that most of our students are financially eligible for free or reduced lunch. Our school is small, but we have a very strong sense of community, hugely dedicated and amazing staff, and hard-working students. Our small size and corresponding budget that we are allocated from the NYC Department of Education means that we are unable to fund an afterschool program through the typical school budget. Check out our school's Instagram to follow along with our progress and to see the impact of your donation on our students. https://www.instagram.com/publicschool137/

The PTA at PS 137 has 501c status and your donation will be tax deductible. Please reach out to me if your employer offers a matching program.