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Afterschool and Global Competence

January 15, 2014

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with the Longview Foundation, published this issue brief examining the natural synergy between global learning and afterschool programs. The brief discusses the importance of global competence and describes some of the ways afterschool programs can successfully facilitate global learning. Global learning, also referred to as global education or international education, prepares learners to be active global citizens who believe that they can make a difference and have the skills to do so, at local and global levels.
Afterschool Fosters Success in School

January 15, 2014

This brief explores the various ways afterschool programs support student achievement. It is one in a series of issue briefs sponsored by the MetLife Foundation that addresses the benefits afterschool programs provide to children, families and communities. In the current climate of increased academic assessments, the discussion of student success in school is frequently limited to academic achievement. However, data show that when examining student success, it is vital to include components such as social development and prevention of risky behaviors, as well as academic achievement.
Afterschool Programs at the STEM of Learning

January 15, 2014

As the 20th century fades into history, it takes with it the old industrial economy in which plentiful manufacturing jobs offered millions of people without a college education a ticket to the middle class. The 21st century’s information economy is creating more jobs that require not only a college education but also at least some expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, collectively known as STEM. In order to stay competitive in the global marketplace and provide our children with the best chance to succeed in life, we must get more students on the STEM path.
Afterschool Programs: Helping Kids Compete In Tomorrow’s Workforce

January 15, 2014

Preparing youth for success in tomorrow’s workforce is of increasing concern to our nation’s schools, communities, policymakers and businesses. Afterschool programs are uniquely situated to assist and have been proven to help youth develop skills – from leadership to communications to critical thinking – that are needed in the 21st cntury workplace. This brief outlines the core competencies and skills needed for the workforce and describes how quality afterschool programs contribute to preparing the future workforce.
Afterschool: A High School Dropout Prevention Tool

January 15, 2014

Over one million students who enter ninth grade each year fail to graduate with their peers four years later because they drop out of school. Seven thousand students drop out of school every day, and each year roughly 1.2 million students fail to graduate from high school. More than half of these students are from minority groups. Afterschool programs are a proven way to address the issues and risk factors that lead to dropout and provide a path to graduation and beyond.
Afterschool: A Vital Partner in STEM Education

January 15, 2014

This report from the Afterschool Alliance looks at the role that afterschool time can play in STEM education. There is widespread recognition among education fields of the need for literacy and proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to navigate the modern world and workplace. The afterschool setting serves as an ideal chance for educators to narrow the opportunity gap that many children and youth from under-served and under-represented communities face.
Afterschool: An Ally in Promoting Middle School Improvement

January 15, 2014

This issue brief highlights the many ways afterschool programs can support school improvement efforts within struggling middle schools. In 2005, middle schools were overrepresented on the Department of Education's list of 5,000 failing schools, constituting 37 percent of Title I schools identified for improvement, but only 14 percent of all Title I schools. The middle school years can often be the first step in students falling off the track toward high school graduation.
Afterschool: A Key to Successful Parent Engagement

January 15, 2014

In partnership with MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance released an issue brief exploring afterschool activities, parent engagement, arts enrichment, school improvement and digital learning. The brief examines just a few of the ways afterschool programs support middle school youth, families and communities.
Starting an Afterschool Program

January 15, 2014

This online resource from the Afterschool Alliance provides a list of resources for how schools and youth leaders can go about starting their own afterschool programs. It includes links to start-up guides, sites outlining program development and curriculum building, opportunities for funding and sustainability, as well as ways to reach out to the local community as a whole.
English Language Learners: Becoming Fluent in Afterschool

January 15, 2014

This issue brief looks at how specialized attention and hands-on learning through afterschool programs can allow for a learning environment in which English language learners can develop language and social skills that otherwise could not be fully addressed during a regular school day.