|
The Afterschool
Alliance www.afterschoolalliance.org
Welcome to afterschool.now. The following email alert is produced by the Afterschool Alliance. It is designed to give friends and allies the latest news and information on afterschool policy developments, events and activities. We welcome your feedback. Please send comments, suggestions or new information to advocate@afterschoolalliance.org. In this IssueTop Stories: BELL Effective in Combating Summer Learning Loss | Huge Advance for Afterschool | Rallies Planned From Coast-to-Coast for Lights On Afterschool | Afterschool Funding Precarious, Survey Finds | Experts Tell Congress Afterschool is Key for Math, Science | Grant Joins Spellings in Praising Afterschool Programs' Impact on Literacy | GAO Finds Ongoing Challenges with Tutoring | Unmet Need for Afterschool in Ohio | Kids Enjoy Healthier Snacks, Study Finds In the News: Alaska | Arizona | Minnesota Features & Alerts: In His Own Words... BELL EFFECTIVE IN COMBATING SUMMER LEARNING LOSS A new evaluation of the BELL Summer program concludes that the program is an effective tool in the effort to improve the reading skills of low-performing elementary students, and that it produces "evidence of positive impacts on the degree to which parents encouraged their children to read." BELL ("Building Educated Leaders for Life") provides supplemental learning for low-income youth in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. It aims to "dramatically increase the academic achievements, self-esteem and life opportunities of elementary school children living in underserved communities." The BELL Summer program, like its afterschool counterpart, relies on small-group tutoring, as well as "mentoring from adult role models; experiential learning through field trips, guest speakers and community service; [and] support for parents to more deeply engage in their children's education." The findings point the way toward efforts to combat "summer learning loss," a dynamic that takes a more damaging toll on less academically accomplished students. A news release highlighting key findings is available on BELL's website at www.bellnational.org/UI_Study_Summer_Program82306.htm. HUGE ADVANCE FOR AFTERSCHOOL On Thursday, September 21, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 638, which will put some $550 million in state dollars into afterschool programs. The legislation resulted from Proposition 49, a 2002 ballot measure passed by voters by a wide margin. California's budget has now improved enough to allow for implementation, and schools throughout the state will shortly begin applying for afterschool funds. Governor Schwarzenegger championed the measure, even before he ran for office. "I've always been a big believer in afterschool programs. They help our children succeed in school and stay out of trouble," the Governor said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Luckily, our economy is on the upswing and we have enough revenues for the first time this year to fund Prop. 49." "Our nation took a huge step toward providing badly-needed afterschool opportunities for all children when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 638 into law," Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant said. "We commend California legislators and leaders at the California Department of Education. We thank all the advocates in the state who worked tirelessly to give millions of children safe, enriching places to go after the school day ends. After years of playing a hero in the movies, today Governor Schwarzenegger is a hero to the millions of children and families who will benefit from this measure." Grant urged lawmakers around the country to follow California's lead, and Members of Congress to provide the full funding authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool initiative. "California is leading the way, but all of our children and families deserve the opportunities that afterschool programs provide." Information for Californians on the measure, and on how to apply for the new grants, will be available at www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ba/as/ RALLIES PLANNED FROM COAST-TO-COAST FOR LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL Educators, parents, kids, and community and business leaders will urge policy makers to keep the lights on and the doors open after school at Lights On Afterschool events around the nation next month. Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, this year's Lights On Afterschool will include some 7,500 events in the U.S. and at military bases around the world, with most events scheduled for October 12. At these events, Americans will urge their leaders to support the afterschool programs that keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. Lights On Afterschool rallies give youth a chance to showcase the skills they learn and talents they develop at their afterschool programs, and to send the message that millions of kids have no place to go each weekday afternoon when the school day ends. Events planned for this year include:
AFTERSCHOOL FUNDING PRECARIOUS, SURVEY FINDS As children head back to school, and parents worry about whether their kids will be safe and supervised each afternoon when the school day ends, a new survey finds that many afterschool programs are fully subscribed but still unable to meet the demand in their communities. The new web-based survey finds that budget cuts and stagnation are taking a toll on afterschool programs, and the youth and families they serve. Uncertain Times: Funding Insecurity Puts Afterschool Programs at Risk finds that fewer than half of afterschool programs say their funding is fully secure for the next two years, and just one in five has secure funding for three to five years - and that afterschool programs are serving a high need population, and serving more children than expected. Nearly all respondents say that more children in their communities could benefit if there were more afterschool programs. More than 1,600 afterschool program leaders responded to the survey, which also finds that:
EXPERTS TELL CONGRESS AFTERSCHOOL IS KEY FOR MATH, SCIENCE At a special Capitol Hill briefing on September 13, experts discussed how afterschool programs teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills through fun, engaging activities such as computer programming, robotics, and 3-D digital animation. The briefing was held to address the nation's need to keep pace with other industrialized countries in STEM fields, and the role that afterschool programs can play in preparing youth for careers in these fields. The congressional briefing was sponsored by the Coalition for Science After School, the Afterschool Alliance, the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in conjunction with the Senate and House Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Caucuses and the Senate and House Afterschool Caucuses. For more information on STEM and afterschool, view the Afterschool Alliance's Issue Brief: "Afterschool programs: At the STEM of learning" at www.afterschoolalliance.org/issue_br.cfm. For more information on Girls Inc's Operation SMART, visit www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id=1.2.1. GRANT JOINS SPELLINGS IN PRAISING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS' IMPACT ON LITERACY Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant joined U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and members of an international delegation on a tour of a Queens afterschool program on September 19. As part of the White House Conference on Global Literacy, Spellings led a tour of the Sunnyside Community Services' afterschool program for government ministers from Tunisia, Bahrain, Morocco and Jordan. Grant praised afterschool programs in the United States. "Afterschool programs provide a vital service to our communities and families," she said, "by giving children experiences and opportunities, often not available during the school day, that build their social and academic skills and help them succeed in life." Sitting with the ministers and afterschool leaders in P.S. 150's library, Secretary Spellings said, "I am a strong believer that, in education, we will not be successful at leaving no child behind unless we get extra help and extra attention to the students who need it most." GAO FINDS ONGOING CHALLENGES WITH TUTORING Tutoring mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), known as supplemental educational services (SES), is still facing "speed bumps" as states and school districts try to implement it. A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that, while some states have increased monitoring of SES by district and private providers, many still lack an effective mechanism for determining how well districts are administering the programs and whether the tutoring is helping to raise student achievement. The GAO also finds that student participation in SES remains low, which may result from poor coordination and confusion. While student participation in SES has increased nationally, the number is still low and some 20% of districts required to provide SES had no students receiving services. In response to GAO recommendations, the U.S. Department of Education announced in August that it will expand two pilot programs related to SES implementation. The first allows school districts to offer SES tutoring prior to school choice. NCLB requires underperforming schools that fail to meet academic targets for two years to offer students the option to transfer to other schools; after three years, underperforming schools are required to offer tutoring. A second pilot program allows schools that have been labeled "in need of improvement" to run their own tutoring programs, even though NCLB would have required them to hire tutors outside the school district. For information, go to www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/07/07262006a.html. To view the GAO report, visit www.gao.gov/new.items/d06758.pdf. For additional information for parents and other research, go to www.afterschoolalliance.org/supp_main.cfm. UNMET NEED FOR AFTERSCHOOL IN OHIO Although some Ohio afterschool programs have excess capacity, overall demand for afterschool programs in the state far exceeds supply. In fact, the state has a gap of more than 240,000 spaces in structured, affordable and convenient afterschool programs, according to a report released recently by the Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN). Afterschool Programming in Ohio - Supply and Demand Estimates finds that 30% of Ohio youth are in self-care arrangements, spending 7.5 hours per week unsupervised. The study finds that the principle barriers to enrolling youth in afterschool programs are knowledge about programs and cost. To remove these barriers, it urges providers to ensure that new and existing programs are placed appropriately, priced reasonably and promoted effectively. Afterschool Programming in Ohio concludes with a call to action to ensure that all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs in Ohio. For further information, contact the OAN at info@ohioafterschoolnetwork.org or visit www.ohioafterschoolnetwork.org. KIDS ENJOY HEALTHIER SNACKS, STUDY FINDS A University of California at Davis study finds that changing the snack menu at afterschool programs to include healthier snack options can help low-income children - who tend to be at higher risk for obesity - by improving their eating habits and nutrition. The study focused on children in Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow (START) afterschool program, which serves 8,000 low-income children from 44 public elementary schools in Sacramento, Elk Grove and Rio Linda. Richard Lincoln, program manager for Sacramento START, said the children enjoyed the change. "There are kids coming into our program who have never had fresh produce," he said. "We've found that they love getting fresh fruit, and it's been great seeing them discover that they like it." More information on the study is available in the September 2006 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. IN THE NEWS... Alaska - The Inupiaq community and Barrow school district officials are supporting afterschool programs as an effective way to address Barrow High School's 50% dropout rate and to combat drug use and violence among teens. The youth of this isolated Native American village on the Arctic coast requested more afterschool programs, specifically asking for a football team. In August, the Barrow Whalers played the first football game ever on the Arctic Tundra. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the game has been a boon to the community; the young athletes gained confidence, and the ESPN network will produce a documentary about the team. Arizona - Rock star Alice Cooper announced plans to create a teen center offering a wide variety of afterschool programs, sponsored by his Christian non-profit organization, the Solid Rock Foundation, located at Grand Canyon University. "The Rock," as the $3 million project has been dubbed, will include a multi-use concert hall, sound room and recording studio, basketball courts, rock climbing walls and a coffee house. "With Grand Canyon's support, we are fulfilling a vision we've had for several years - to provide teens and children with a central place to learn, have fun, and explore their creativity in a supportive environment," Cooper said. For information, visit www.srfrock.org. Minnesota - What began as a small afterschool program in north Minneapolis 17 years ago has grown into a successful business that also keeps teens off the streets and gives them paychecks, business skills and mentoring opportunities. The Cookie Cart has as many as 40 students enrolled at one time, and they are responsible for baking, decorating and packing hundreds of dozens of cookies. Bakery and employment director Toronda Richardson said the program plays a key role in the teens' lives, and told the Associated Press, "a lot of them, even at the tender age of 14, might be the only one working in their household." For more information, visit www.cookiecart.org. IN HIS OWN WORDS... "Let's continue to challenge ourselves to find those neighborhoods where kids really don't have enough options - where they cannot play baseball because the sandlot is patrolled by gangs. In areas both urban and rural, there are too many kids who leave a bad school in the afternoon to return to an empty or even dangerous home. That's where we need the Boys & Girls Club the most and I want to support you in seeking those neighborhoods out." --U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, speaking at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Annual Congressional Breakfast, September 20, 2006
|
