Enrollment in United Way after-school program nearly doubles

A community program designed to help Cape Girardeau and Jackson families succeed embarks on its fifth year with a growing record of success, organizers say.

United Way of Southeast Missouri's Leading and Inspiring Families to Excel, or LIFE, coordinates services with students in Jackson and Cape Girardeau Public Schools, and area after-school programs.

Participation in LIFE-supported after-school programs has nearly doubled from 175 last year students to 354 students as of this week, officials say.

Students participating in the programs have higher attendance rates, increased grade-point averages and decreased discipline referrals, according to a United Way news release.

"The LIFE program is bringing high quality out-of-school tutorial, enrichment and family engagement programming to students after school," Jo Peukert, LIFE Coordinator, said in the release. "Assisting students most at risk of academic failure and helping them succeed is our goal and we're making great strides."

For more on the story, check back later with semissourian.com, and read Monday's Southeast Missourian for perspective on the program.