After School Grant

The Foundation believes that all youth deserve the opportunity to attend high-quality after-school programs that incorporate best practice standards and provide children with experiences that are challenging, nurturing, and fun. We use the term “after school” to include programs that operate during the hours of 3pm to 6pm during the school year. Programs may take place in school buildings, or any community-based facility. 

 Best-Practice elements of an after school program include:

• Typically operate 3-5 days a week
• Recording program attendance to show that youth participate on a consistent basis  
• Youth development opportunities that include hands-on project-based learning
• Daily homework help 
• Enrichment activities that focus on skills building (executive functions, literacy and numeracy), such as theater arts, STEM, and recreation activities that include team and confidence building

High-quality means proven after school program models that support student learning and result in better academic outcomes, while increasing youth engagement in their schools and community. High quality elements include:

• Broad outreach to get and keep youth involved and engaged
• Developmentally age-appropriate and culturally-relevant to the youth being served
• Clear and defined outcomes for youth
• Methods to measure program implementation and progress