A local church is opening its doors to an after-school program set on keeping young children from falling behind in school.

Ninth Street Church in Washington is hosting an after-school program run by Flora Brooks, who, in addition to a master’s degree in administration, has more than 20 years of experience in education.

By enrolling in the program, parents and caregivers can drop off pre-K to third-grade students at the church, Mondays through Fridays, from 2-6 p.m.

Brooks said it was her experience with children falling behind, and staying behind, their classroom peers in school that has prompted her to start the program.

“I saw there was a need in the community,” Brooks said. “The basic thing is to help them — to prepare them for school.”

A daily schedule of snacks, homework time, physical activities, creative arts, speakers and enrichment activities will be offered — a similar program to the one she worked with in Pitt County that had very favorable results, she said.

“(The students) had great improvement through the program,” Brooks said.

To attest to that, each student will be given a pre- and post-assessment, so skills improvement can be shown to parents/caregivers of those children enrolled in the program.

Brooks said she chose the location of the after-school program carefully — close to John Cotten Tayloe Elementary School — so that parents/caregivers could easily drop off or walk children over after school.

Enrollment is open now, and the program is slated to start up next month.

“We just need students enrolled,” Brooks laughed. “It’s a fun program, and the child will learn.”

For more information about the Ninth Street Church after-school program, call 252-946-6607.