New Report on Afterschool Programs in Urban Areas

Posted by on May 13, 2005

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

THE AFTERSCHOOL HOURS: A NEW FOCUS FOR AMERICA?S CITIES

Vigorous leadership by mayors and city council members can yield big dividends through improvements in the quality of after-school programs, according to a new publication released by the National League of Cities (NLC). The report spotlights eight successful community initiatives focusing on engaging students in the critical hours after school and offers practical advice and lessons for other local officials to use. Recognizing that the hours children spend after-school offer an ideal time to reinforce and supplement learning while providing enrichment opportunities, each of the eight communities assembled a diverse group of key stakeholders, including municipal officials, school board members, school administrators, parents, community based organizations, and business and civic leaders to design or improve implementation of critical after-school programs. The report found seven lessons that municipal can use in strengthening after-school programs while working to address other community issues, and that municipal officials are in a position to ensure funding for long-term stability.

http://www.nlc.org/content/Files/IYEF-Lessons%20Learned%20AfterschooI.pdf