Community Schools Work! 2002 National Forum, June 23-25, 2002 www.communityschools.org/conference
In This Issue
February 6, 2002 Vol. II, No. 1

Afterschool Programs are Growing Stronger

Quality afterschool programs are an important part of community schools. As these programs continue to grow, organizations are working to ensure that afterschool programs are working effectively with schools toward mutual goals. There is also an increasing number of evaluations and resources available that demonstrate the positive impact of afterschool programs.
(Note: We will report on changes in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program in an upcoming issue.)

What They Did on Vacation

A recent op-ed in the Washington Post emphasizes that there is more to student achievement than just the hours spent in the classroom.


Welcome to Community Schools Online where we provide updates on developments in the community schools field and the work of the Coalition. Please forward this e-mail to interested partners in your network and to related listservs. If you wish to subscribe to Community Schools Online, register at http://www.communityschools.org/about.html#email. To unsubscribe, send an email to ccs-l-off@lists.iel.org.
Afterschool Programs are Growing Stronger

Understanding School Standards
Boys & Girls clubs are using afterschool activities to help school districts ensure that all students meet challenging educational standards. To support these efforts, Boys & Girls Clubs of America recently published Understanding School Standards: A Project Learn Publication on Linking Club Programs to Academic Standards. The guide provides background information, practical tips and strategies for youth development organizations to consider in linking their activities to school standards. The guide also contains a glossary and resources section designed to help youth development professionals develop fluency in the language and context of school reform in their communities. http://www.bgca.org/ProjectLearnSupp121301.pdf

Afterschool Evaluations
The Afterschool Advocate, a newsletter published by the Afterschool Alliance, recently focused on the growing number of quality afterschool evaluations becoming available. Evaluations of programs such as LA's Best and the New York City Beacons Initiative have found that afterschool programs have helped lead to:

  • Better school attendance and academic achievement;
  • Increased student engagement in school; and
  • Growing student participation in community service activities.
To read more findings from these evaluations and for information on forthcoming afterschool evaluations, see the complete edition of The Afterschool Advocate. www.communityschools.org/advocate.pdf

Fact Sheet on Afterschool Programs
In response to the growing interest in afterschool programs, The Children's Aid Society recently complied a fact sheet on afterschool programs:

Fact One: Non-school hours represent the single largest block of time in the lives of American children and youth.
Fact Two: Young people's participation in organized after-school programs has positive impacts on educational achievement.
Fact Three: Young people experience multiple benefits from participation in high quality afterschool programs.
Fact Four: Teenagers as well as younger children benefit from participation in high quality after-school programs.
Fact Five: Afterschool programs are not equitably distributed. Low-income youth are much less likely than their more affluent peers to have access to them.
Fact Six: In addition to providing an ideal opportunity for promoting children's learning and development, the after-school hours pose great risk.
Fact Seven: Afterschool programs help reduce youth crime.
Fact Eight: There is widespread public support for the expansion of afterschool programs.

For a complete description of the facts on afterschool programs, see www.communityschools.org/afterschoolfactsheet.html.

New Publication from the National Assembly of Health and Human Service Organization
After School Collaboration: When it Works - Why it Works - A Literature Review is a comprehensive review of literature that specifically addresses what makes an effective collaboration between community-based organizations and schools. With funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundaiton, this report is the second in a series of reports that explores promising practices in after school collaboration. To order this publication, visit the National Assembly website at www.nassembly.org or call (202) 347-2080.

 
What They Did on Vacation

Gerald Bracey writes that holding schools solely accountable for student achievement is an unrealistic part of the new national education plan. He emphasizes that learning experiences gained by students outside of the classroom play a significant role in student achievement.
www.communityschools.org/bracey.html

 

Additional Information
Check out http://www.communityschools.org/ for more information on the Coalition's work and progress. Contact Will Blackwell at blackwellw@iel.org to share important information involving community schools in your area and to learn more about their success across the nation. There is new information posted about the Community Schools Work! 2002 National Forum to be held in Washington, DC, June 23-25, 2002. http://www.communityschools.org/conference.html