Common Elements of

Quality After-School

Programs

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Quality after-school programs can provide safe, engaging environments that complement the school day by promoting learning to improve student outcomes.Both practitioners and researchers have found that effective programs combine academic, enrichment, cultural, and recreational activities to guide learning and engage children and youth in wholesome activities.

What We Know About Afterschool Programs

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Types of Activities Found in a Quality After-School Program

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

Tutoring

Supplemental

Instruction

Service-Learning

Character Education

Drug & Violence

Prevention

Computer Instruction

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Types of Activities Found in a Quality After-School Program

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

College Awareness

and Preparation

Art and Cultural

Education

Employment

Preparation or Training

Mentoring

Supervised Recreation

Athletic Programs

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Goal setting and strong

management

Planning for long-term

sustainability

Quality after-school staffing

Attention to safety,

health, and nutrition

issues

Effective partnerships

Strong involvement of families

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Extended learning

opportunities

Linkages between

school-day and after-

school personnelEvaluation

of program progress

and effectivenes

s

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Goal setting and strong manage-ment

Setting goals directed at addressing student outcomesImplementing quality programming focused on the goalsCreating a solid organizational structure

Adapting effective management strategiesMeeting legal requirements

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Plan for long-term sustain-ability

Accessing adequate and sustainable funding

Building public will through advocacy

Ensuring access and equity for all children

Incorporating recognition for program and students

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Quality after-school staffing

Hiring, retaining, and compensating qualified staff, including a dedicated program administrator

Providing ongoing professional development for staffUsing volunteers effectively

Ensuring low staff-to-student ratio (1:10)

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Attention to safety, health, and nutrition issues

Creating safe places with adequate space and materialsMeeting nutritional needs

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Effective partner-ships

Building on the strengths of the community by collaborating among diverse partnersUsing community resources effectively

Building consensus and partnerships among key stakeholders

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Strong involve-ment of families

Involving families and youth in program planning

Attending to the needs of working parents

Providing opportunities for both children and families within school and in the community

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Extended learning opport-unities

Provide engaging opportunities directed at learning and improving student outcomesCoordinating learning with the regular school day

Offering wide variety of activities to meet diverse needs Linking school-day and after-school curriculum

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Linkages between school-day and after-school staff

Providing planning time to maximize opportunities to improve student outcomes

Coordinating and maximizing the use of school and other community facilities and resources

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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Evaluation of program progress and effective-ness

Using data for program improvement and accountability

Designing effective evaluations to address program and student outcomes

Common Elements of Afterschool Programs

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These characteristics of high-quality afterschool programs

help ensure children’s continued growth, development, and learning throughout the

pre-adolescent and adolescent school years.

Conclusions about Common Elements

of Afterschool Programs

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