A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

I. Key Facts

• Libraries, museums, theaters, businesses and others are useful learning tools. There are many resources in a community that offer meaningful learning experiences for children in a wide array of areas. Libraries, museums, observatories, science labs, aquariums, theaters, symphonies, and businesses can all be linked with schools and community groups to enrich teaching and learning during the regular school day as well as provide after-school, weekend, and summer learning experiences for families and children. Many of these institutions have special family programming.

• Time outside the classroom is a time to learn, too. Studies show that students' activities out of school significantly affect their social development and academic success. For example, programs designed to encourage and assist students to complete their homework can affect academic achievement while providing safe care. Children under adult supervision in a formal program have demonstrated improved achievement and better attitudes towards school than their friends in self-or sibling care. Children on their own during after-school hours are more likely to feel bored, to be fearful of their safety, and to engage in delinquent activities such as drug and alcohol abuse.

• Businesses have a key role in linking learning experiences with the interests of older students. Many communities around the country have launched "school-to-work" apprenticeship and internship programs. These usually offer classroom learning that is related to the work experience, career counseling, and links to formal education and training programs at postsecondary institutions.

Areas that Need Attention. While research clearly shows that activities supplementing learning during the regular school day benefit students' school performance, these activities are the exception rather than the norm. Getting students to attend enriching cultural, scientific, artistic, musical, sports and recreational, service-oriented, and craft activities is not always easy due to community barriers.

• School-to-work opportunities are not typical. Compared to many other developed countries, the United States does not provide many work-study, apprenticeship opportunities, or internships for high school or college students.

• After-school and summer activities for youth are uncommon. Far too many young people have little or nothing to do after school or in the summer, leaving them susceptible to the dangerous influences of drugs, gangs, and violence. Studies have shown that this is especially true in inner cities that have fewer community resources than their neighboring suburbs. Inner cities do, however, have cultural resources (museums and theaters) that can provide enriching activities and are often not busy during after-school hours.

• A lack of community-school partnerships and transportation impede student activities. Even when communities have institutions that can help, students often can't take advantage because of poor transportation or because schools have not cultivated working relationships with these institutions.

II. Ten Activities To Link Your Schools and Students with Community Resources

1. Families: Go to the library and ask for information about learning opportunities in the community. Take your children on regular visits to the libraries, museums, cultural events, and activities at local colleges. Admission is often free or low in cost.

2. Families: Explore career and school-to-work opportunities for your children and urge them to take advantage. Discuss career plans with them on a regular basis. Show them that you believe in their capabilities.

3. Schools: Open the school building to community groups for activities before and after school, on weekends, and during the summer. Invite local community college or university staff to offer weekend classes to families and community members. Enrich daily instruction by connecting with local resources. Offer service learning opportunities where young people work on community problems or challenges. Help link students and families with other community institutions.

4. Schools, businesses, and community groups: Work with local and school libraries and community groups to create a resource directory of all extracurricular programs and activities available for children in the community. The directory should include information such as eligible age groups, costs, schedules, and locations.

5. Community, military, and religious groups: Offer affordable, quality after-school and summer learning opportunities. Provide resource people and activities for teachers to enrich learning during and outside the regular school day.

6. Community members and businesses: Volunteer to help schools develop courses that will prepare students for jobs that are available in the area. Help link students with wholesome activities in the community which reinforce learning.

7. Businesses: Contact the high schools in your area to see if there is a school-to-work or tech prep program available. If a program exists, offer to participate by providing work-based learning experiences for students, apprenticeships, internships, and training. If no program exists, start one by working with other employers, schools, and community colleges. Ask employees to volunteer at school to talk about their jobs and demonstrate what they do. Another good idea is to help students and teachers set up business ventures. Buy products and services from them.

8. Businesses: Hire qualified graduates of school-to-work programs. Set up a program where students can shadow employees to learn about their jobs. Make high school grades meaningful by asking prospective employees to show you their transcripts.

9. Businesses: Help employees to fund before and after-school learning and extracurricular opportunities for their children.

10. Employees: Urge your employer to participate in a school-to-work program. Volunteer to serve as a mentor or supervisor for students who participate.

III. Where To Go for More Help

ORGANIZATIONS

The following organizations can provide assistance to groups and organizations seeking to develop school-to-work programs.

School-To-Work Opportunities Information Center
Room 210, 400 Virginia Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20024
202- 401-6222

The School-to-Work National Employer Leadership Council
1001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20036
202-822-8027

The National Center on Education and the Economy
Workforce Skills Program
700 Eleventh St., NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-783-3668

The Bay State Skills Corporation
101 Summer St.
Second Floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-292-5100

For information about the AmeriCorps program, call 1-800-94ACORPS.

PUBLICATIONS

"Using Local Resources: The Power of Partnerships" produced by the National Coalition for Education in the Arts, available from the Music Educators National Conference, 1-800-828-0229. Cost: $1.25 includes postage.

"Building Museum School Partnerships" written by Beverly Shepherd with support from the Institute for Museum Services, available from the American Association of Museums Bookstore, 1225 Eye St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, 202-289-1818. Cost: $30.00.

"Arts and Education Planning: Three Local Communities" Vol 1 and 2. Available from the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies, 927 15th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, 202-371-2830. Cost: $5.00 each includes postage.

The following publications are available by calling the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-USA-LEARN:

Invitation to Your Community: Building Community Partnerships for Learning

Moving America to the Head of the Class: 50 Simple Things You Can Do

Several publications are available free of charge from the National-School-to-Work Opportunities Information Center. The address and phone number are listed above.

Videos available for two-week loans by calling 1-800-USA-Learn:

The U.S. Department of Education has available tapes of the Goals 2000 Satellite Town Meetings and other products that are available free of charge through a lending library. VHS videotapes are available on loan for a two- week period. The Goals 2000 Satellite Town Meeting is not copyrighted and viewers are encouraged to make copies and distribute them in their communities. If you plan to broadcast the Satellite Town Meeting and need a broadcast-quality 3/4" videotape, call 1-800-USA-LEARN. These videos include:

Satellite Town Meeting #18
January 17, 1995
School-to-Work: Preparing Students and Adults for Challenging Jobs

Satellite Town Meeting #17
November 15, 1994
Connecting Families and Schools: Building Partnerships that Work

Satellite Town Meeting #14
June 21, 1994
"Increasing Parent Involvement in Education"

Satellite Town Meeting #13
May 17, 1994
"Time and Learning: New Ideas for Inside and Outside School"

Satellite Town Meeting #9
January 18, 1994
"The Arts and Education"

Satellite Town Meeting #3
May 18, 1993
"Organizing Your Community"

Satellite Town Meeting #2
April 13, 1993
"Transition from School to Work"

A Conversation About Education in America (August 1994). U. S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley talks with the 1994 National Principal of the Year, the 1994 Teacher of the Year, the 1994 Missouri Principal of the Year, and a parent from Fairfax County, Virginia.

Funding is available to help states and communities develop school-to-work partnerships. Your community may qualify. For information, see Need Financial Assistance? Your Schools May Qualify For Funding
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