The Suburban Cultural Educational Enrichment Program (SCEEP) provides one-on-one tutorial services to children attending Newark elementary schools. The goal of SCEEP is to improve academic performance, raise self-esteem and motivate children while preventing school drop-outs.

During the school year, the SCEEP offers close to 500 children after-school tutoring and enrichment programs each week. SCEEP is the largest one-on-one tutoring program in New Jersey. This program is completely privately funded and is made possible through partnerships between churches, synogogues, universities, private schools and PCCI. The Newark Public School system and dedicated teachers who identify and encourage children to participate in this program are also important partners. Host organizations, foundations and individuals provide the funding.

Children are brought to a host church site once each week and transported back to their homes. In many cases a long- term relationship develops between the host church and the specific school that they serve. Currently, there are fifteen churches, six corporations, one university, one private school and fifteen Newark public schools and a synagogue participating in these programs. Through SCEEP and DEEP-C, PCCI's corporate mentoring program, 500 volunteers provide close to a million hours of service each year.


Participating children are identified by teachers who recommend students who may not be working up to their potential and can benefit from our programs. The children have one-on-one tutoring with the same tutor for one hour a week for the three-year cycle of the program. Tutors try to tailor their time with the child to address individual needs.

Because of interest on the part of SCEEP/DEEP-C graduates, PCCI is expanding to offer more programs appropriate for children in grades six to eight.

Beyond tutoring, each center takes advantage of local opportunities to provide enrichment and recreational activities, tying enjoyment to learning. The purpose of the "second hour" activity is to combine learning with fun. Some examples include trips to libraries, museums, environmental centers and local cultural events. Guest speakers, cooking, spelling bees, poster contests, community reading challenges, and ice-skating are a sampling of the types of activities offered. The field trips also serve to provide hands-on experiences that supplement learning.

Some activities bring all of the SCEEP and DEEP-C children together. Each year Newark Academy hosts "SCEEP Olympics" where children have the opportunity to participate in a number of sporting and physical events in a day-long competition and celebration. Special emphasis is placed on sportsmanship and team play.

These programs provide meaningful, enjoyable opportunities for community service. Volunteers usually say they receive much more than they give. They enjoy the opportunity to spend quality one-on-one time with a child and seeing how much the students improve in school. Some teen volunteers have made career decisions based on their volunteer experience.

Ultimately, the results speak for themselves. Each year between 60%-70% of children who participate in the SCEEP program for three years move from C-D averages to the honor roll. The qualitative results are as important as the quantitative ones. Teachers report a significant improvement in attitude and interest in school among participants. More positive attitudes toward school can foster an interest in lifelong learning, which is a key factor in achieving success in a knowledge economy.

Union Congregational Church
Bloomfield College
The Community Church of Mountain Lakes
First Presbyterian Church of Mendham
Glen Ridge Congregational Church
Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown
The United Methodist Church in Madison