Milat - Enriched School Day

It has become more widely recognized that children at risk need holistic solutions that tackle the cognitive, emotional and social aspects of their situation, and that school and kindergarten are a good place to offer such solutions.
  

During 2006, the Ministry of Education issued a tender for the operation of Milat (the Hebrew acronym for "extended learning day framework"), to replace the Enriched School Day program which was operated for 12 years by the Rashi Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, local authorities and other foundations, providing a hot lunch, education reinforcement and enrichment to disadvantaged pupils. The Rashi Foundation won the tender for one year with an optional extension for 3 more years, and the Association for Change in Education was charged with the implementation.
 

Milat is operated in kindergartens, elementary and junior-high schools, selected according to Ministry of Education criteria, targeting children from disadvantaged homes. The program is run by teachers and specialist staff, and consists of educational and enrichment components, including differential treatment for children with learning, developmental or emotional problems. The educational component complements the regular school curriculum, and is an official continuation of the school day.
  

In 2008-9, Milat is planned to reach nearly 42,000 children in 86 localities in all areas of the country, funded by the Ministry of Education and the local authority, with the Rashi Foundation funding additional staff in order to provide a better service.