A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
Expanding After-School Programs
Keeping schools open longer--before- and after-school, and during the summer and weekends--can turn schools into community learning centers, providing students, parents, and the community with access to valuable educational, cultural, and recreational resources in a safe, supervised, and drug-free environment. Recent research has also shown that quality after-school and summer programs can improve reading and math, academic achievement, and discipline of children and youth; and indicates that these types of programs reduce crime, delinquency, and victimization of children and youth. According to a recent survey, parents are also in favor of after-school enrichment programs that would provide their children with computer classes, art and music courses, tutoring, and community service projects.
Expanding school-community partnerships as well as state, local and national initiatives can help communities develop or establish programs that provide after-school care in public school buildings using existing resources, such as computers, libraries, art and music rooms, gymnasiums, and sports equipment.
Related facts:
- At least 28 million school-age children have parents in the work force and require after-school care. Experts estimate that at least 5 million school-age children spend time as latch-key kids without adult supervision during a typical week.
- About 35 percent of 12 year-olds are regularly left by themselves while their parents are at work.
- According to FBI statistics, most juvenile (ages 12-17) crime takes place between the hours of 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- More than 70 percent of parents want their children to attend an after school program--while 79 percent indicated they would like a free program, almost as many, 74 percent, would pay for a program. There was little to no difference in the demographics of the parents who responded differently.
- Only 31 percent of elementary school parents and 39 percent of middle school parents reported that their children actually attend an after-school program.
- According to a recent National PTA survey, 65 percent of people would support increased federal funding for after-school programs.
Model programs:
- KLICK! (Kids Learning in Computer Klubhouses), a consortium of nine urban and rural Michigan school districts with support from the College of Education at Michigan State University (MSU), has established a virtual network of ten middle school computer clubhouses as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. The 10 extra-curricular clubhouses enable at-risk students to engage in authentic learning opportunities through the use of computers and computer-related technology. Students create web pages, write newsletter articles, communicate electronically with other students across Michigan, and are learning to use many other forms of technology. Most importantly, the clubhouses provide safe environments that break down the barriers of isolation imposed by poverty, distance, and age.
The clubhouses allow middle school students to become a helpful technology resource to all facets of their communities, including senior citizens, service organizations, and others in need of their services. Each school site is staffed with an on-site coordinator and equipped with a variety of technology resources. MSU provides ongoing training and support for the school coordinators. For more information, visit their Web site at http://www.klick.org.
- Virtual Y, in New York City, is an extended school service designed to reach 10,000 public school children in 100 public school buildings across the city. Each day, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 100 second, third and fourth graders at each site participate in the Y's traditional curriculum to build strong values, enhance education, improve academic performance, and promote healthy lifestyles. Reading is the "golden thread" woven throughout the curriculum. Virtual Y maximizes resources by using a mixture of full- and part-time professionals and volunteers, including college work-study students, AmeriCorps volunteers, and high school students involved in service learning. Families, schools, and the community work together to make the Virtual Y program a reality. For more information, contact: Christian Di Palermo, (212) 630-1543.
- Save the Children Out-of-School Time Rural Initiative provides program dollars, training, technical assistance, and ongoing evaluation to rural sites across the country, such as the El Rito Family Learning Center in New Mexico, and in the Zuni School District in Zuni, New Mexico. These programs are working to provide children with constructive activities, safe places, and supervision from caring adults. As a model literacy effort, the Zuni project highlights many programs geared towards reading. The El Rito Center targets children for after-school and summer programs, and offers them everything from computer lab instruction to fine arts. For more information, contact: Renee Paisano, (505) 268-5364; (505) 268-5436 (fax).
America Goes Back to School Idea:
Create a safe learning environment for children by starting or expanding an after-school enrichment program. Involve teachers, parent volunteers, college students, and senior citizens as tutors and program directors. Take advantage of school resources such as music rooms, libraries, computer labs, and gyms, and link up with community organizations and cultural and youth groups to create a structured and varied learning environment.
Resources:
The U.S. Department of Education has a variety of materials, programs, and information about high quality after-school programs. To request products related to any of these programs, call 1-877-4ED-Pubs. For additional information on these programs, call 1-800-USA-LEARN or visit the following Web sites: