Why Afterschool Matters
Why Afterschool Matters

Author: Ingrid A. Nelson

Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Published: 2016-12-08

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 0813584957

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Increasingly, educational researchers and policy-makers are finding that extracurricular programs make a major difference in the lives of disadvantaged youth, helping to reduce the infamous academic attainment gap between white students and their black and Latino peers. Yet studies of these programs typically focus on how they improve the average academic performance of their participants, paying little attention to individual variation. Why Afterschool Matters takes a different approach, closely following ten Mexican American students who attended the same extracurricular program in California, then chronicling its long-term effects on their lives, from eighth grade to early adulthood. Discovering that participation in the program was life-changing for some students, yet had only a minimal impact on others, sociologist Ingrid A. Nelson investigates the factors behind these very different outcomes. Her research reveals that while afterschool initiatives are important, they are only one component in a complex network of school, family, community, and peer interactions that influence the educational achievement of disadvantaged students. Through its detailed case studies of individual students, this book brings to life the challenges marginalized youth en route to college face when navigating the intersections of various home, school, and community spheres. Why Afterschool Matters may focus on a single program, but its findings have major implications for education policy nationwide.

Afterschool Matters
Afterschool Matters

Author: Sara L. Hill

Publisher: Corwin Press

Published: 2007-10-08

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 1452293457

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"Exemplifies good teaching that might occur anywhere—not just after school. The author presents sound educational endeavors that respond sensitively and inventively to children′s interests, needs, and predilections but extend their knowledge, skills, and understanding into new domains." —From the Foreword by Glynda A. Hull "Tackles the issue of the place of afterschool programs in raising student achievement and warns that it is unwise to solely create another layer of school. Afterschool programs also have to have an element of FUN." —Paul Young, Executive Director West After School Center, Inc. Create an out-of-school time program that bridges enrichment activities and academics! School leaders and afterschool specialists recognize that successful afterschool programs rely on achieving a balance between academic and enrichment activities. With contributions from researchers and practitioners in the field of out-of-school time, Afterschool Matters provides concrete models that demonstrate how to help youth who are struggling academically and how to support them in their overall development. Editor Sara Hill brings together a range of projects grounded in student interests to enhance multiple student competencies. Embracing the social, artistic, civic, emotional, and intellectual growth of students, this volume: Aligns learning standards with youth development principles Provides quality program models from experts in the field Addresses the challenges and successes in designing and sustaining afterschool activities Supported by The Robert Bowne Foundation, a leading funder of afterschool programs, this guidebook can help you create, revise, or improve your local program.

Building Effective Afterschool Programs
Building Effective Afterschool Programs

Author: Olatokunbo S. Fashola

Publisher: Corwin Press

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 134

ISBN-13: 9780761978787

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Through a comprehensive review of various afterschool programs across the United States, this resource provides a practical overview of the research and best practices that can be easily adapted and applied in the development of highly effective afterschool programs. chapters focus on: (1) "Why Afterschool Programs?" (benefits, challenges, and functions, research methodology, types of programs, and program evaluation); (2) "Language Arts Afterschool Programs" (e.g., extended-day tutoring and the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program); (3) "Enrichment Afterschool Programs" (e.g., Hands On Science Outreach and the Imaginitis Learning System); (4) "Tutoring Programs to Improve Reading and Study Skills Programs" (e.g., Book Buddies and Early Identification Programs); (5) "Community-Based Afterschool Programs" (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Police Athletic League); (6) "How to Create an Afterschool Program: From Conception to Implementation" (e.g., assessing the situation, creating the components, and training the service providers); (7) "Evaluation" (e.g., why evaluation is important, effective evaluations, and creating a solid evaluation infrastructure); and (8) "Conclusions and Implications: What Works" (patterns of success among the programs and barriers to participation). A list of resources is included. (Contains 143 references.) (SM)

Measure, Use, Improve!
Measure, Use, Improve!

Author: Christina A. Russell

Publisher: IAP

Published: 2020-10-01

Total Pages: 357

ISBN-13: 1648022553

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Measure, Use, Improve! Data Use in Out-of-School Time shares the experience and wisdom from a broad cross-section of out-of-school time professionals, ranging from internal evaluators, to funders, to researchers, to policy advocates. Key themes of the volume include building support for learning and evaluation within out-of-school time programs, creating and sustaining continuous quality improvement efforts, authentically engaging young people and caregivers in evaluation, and securing funder support for learning and evaluation. This volume will be particularly useful to leadership-level staff in out-of-school time organizations that are thinking about deepening their own learning and evaluation systems, yet aren’t sure where to start. Authors share conceptual frameworks that have helped inform their thinking, walk through practical examples of how they use data in out-of-school time, and offer advice to colleagues.

The Growing Out-of-school Time Field
The Growing Out-of-school Time Field

Author: Helen Janc Malone

Publisher: Current Issues in Out-of-School Time

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781641130288

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Current Issues in Out-of-School Time, is designed with a purpose to disseminate original research and promising practices that further the OST field. This first book sets the foundation on which the series rests upon, by offering an analysis of the progress made since the 2000s, as well as by looking toward the future for areas of considerations.

Afterschool Education
Afterschool Education

Author: Gil G. Noam

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13:

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Afterschool education has grown in recent years into a vast and diverse enterprise. In the United States, young people spend almost one-third of their organized time (including school hours) in afterschool and summer programs. Yet there is little clear and conclusive research on afterschool programs--research that would help guide the practice of existing afterschools and establish guidelines for the creation of new afterschool programs. This timely book fills that gap. In straightforward language and analyses, the authors survey the current afterschool landscape and bring to light important issues and practices within the field. They explore the challenges and opportunities facing afterschool educational programs, including their complex relations with public and private schools. In the course of describing the full range of contemporary programs, they also point to future directions for these burgeoning educational ventures. An indisputable guide for practitioners, administrators, policymakers, and parents, Afterschool Education will serve as the cornerstone for all future accounts of--and proposals for--this crucial educational field. "This book deepens the understanding of anyone--policymakers, program administrators, partnering educators, afterschool program leaders--who is invested in the effective use of afterschool resources to support young people's growth and progress." -- Sam Piha, Director, Community Network for Youth Development Gil G. Noam directs the Program in Afterschool Education and Research at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Laboratory of Development Psychology at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Gina Biancarosa is an advanced doctoral student in Language and Literacy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Research Assistant at the Program in Afterschool Education and Research. Nadine Dechaussy served as a Research Assistant and Community Liaison at the Program in Afterschool Education and Research.

Youth Development, 2nd Ed
Youth Development, 2nd Ed

Author: Peter A. Witt

Publisher:

Published: 2018-06-21

Total Pages: 642

ISBN-13: 9781571679154

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Out-of-school time (OST) settings are powerful contexts for youth development when programs and services are intentionally designed. Youth Development Principles and Practices in Out-of-School Time Settings was written to increase the capacity of students and professionals to facilitate youths optimal transition to adulthood through maximizing the developmental benefits accrued by participating in OST programs and experiences. Peter A. Witt and Linda L. Caldwell, two well-respected researchers in the youth development field, have brought together a group of outstanding authors who provide an exceptional blend of theory- and practice-based information critical to anyone seeking to conceptualize, design, and evaluate OST programs. All chapters are based on tenets of positive youth development necessary to enable youth to thrive. The book is divided into five sections: (1) youth development principles and foundational information (e.g., youth today as well as an historical perspective on youth work); (2) developing youths potential (including specific chapters on leisure and recreation, youth sport, nature-based activities and the arts); (3) systematic program planning and evaluation of youth programs. (4) the role of adults and families in the lives of youth; (5) issues of diversity in youth development (e.g., race and ethnicity, immigrant, LGBT, and ability level). A final chapter discusses the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become a skilled youth professional. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking discussion questions and assignments that encourage application and further exploration of the chapters content. The book is a must read for students and practitioners seeking to understand youth today and support their development through out-of-school time programs.

Identifying and Supporting Productive STEM Programs in Out-of-School Settings
Identifying and Supporting Productive STEM Programs in Out-of-School Settings

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-10-26

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 0309373654

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More and more young people are learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a wide variety of afterschool, summer, and informal programs. At the same time, there has been increasing awareness of the value of such programs in sparking, sustaining, and extending interest in and understanding of STEM. To help policy makers, funders and education leaders in both school and out-of-school settings make informed decisions about how to best leverage the educational and learning resources in their community, this report identifies features of productive STEM programs in out-of-school settings. Identifying and Supporting Productive STEM Programs in Out-of-School Settings draws from a wide range of research traditions to illustrate that interest in STEM and deep STEM learning develop across time and settings. The report provides guidance on how to evaluate and sustain programs. This report is a resource for local, state, and federal policy makers seeking to broaden access to multiple, high-quality STEM learning opportunities in their community.

Leaving to Learn: How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates
Leaving to Learn: How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates

Author: Elliot Washor, Charles Mojkowski

Publisher: Urban Fox Studios

Published: 2013-10-11

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0325050724

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In this provocative book, authors Washor and Mojkowski observe that beneath the worrisome levels of dropouts from our nation’s high school lurks a more insidious problem: student disengagement from school and from deep and productive learning. To keep students in school and engaged as productive learners through to graduation, schools must provide experiences in which all students do some of their learning outside school as a formal part of their programs of study. All students need to leave school—frequently, regularly, and, of course, temporarily—to stay in school and persist in their learning. To accomplish this, schools must combine academic learning with experiential learning, allowing students to bring real-world learning back into the school, where it should be recognized, assessed, and awarded academic credit. Learning outside of school, as a complement to in-school learning, provides opportunities for deep engagement in rigorous learning.

It Takes an Ecosystem
It Takes an Ecosystem

Author: Thomas Akiva

Publisher: IAP

Published: 2022-01-01

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 1648026699

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It Takes an Ecosystem explores the idea and potential of the Allied Youth Fields—an aspirational term that suggests increased connection across the multiple systems in which adults engage with young people. Recent research and initiatives make a strong case for what developmentalists have argued for decades: A young person’s learning and development is shaped in positive and negative ways by the interactions they have with all the adults in their life. Now is the time to reshape our systems to support this scientific understanding. The chapters in this book provide ideas, tools, examples, and visions for a more connected, more equitable world for young people and the adults in their lives. Endorsements for It Takes an Ecosystem "It Takes an Ecosystem offers a powerful and timely engagement of the possibilities and challenges facing the Out-of-School Time sector…this book charts a path forward for scholars, practitioners, community members to imagine OST anew---in ways that are socially just and affirming, centered on the optimal development of youth and the power of community." — Bianca Baldridge University of Wisconsin Madison "The book’s emphasis on an ecosystem approach, anchored in commitments to equity and racial justice, combines evidence-based analyses with a future-oriented call to action for the allied youth fields. This book will be a must-read for those committed to radically re-thinking how we bring sectors together to support thriving for children and youth." Ben Kirshner University of Colorado