Comments on: Why lengthen the school day? After school programs are more cost effective… http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/ a view from mid-America Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:16:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Betty D. http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-753 Betty D. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:26:18 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1182#comment-753 While I would never question the value of a quality afterschool program, especially for at-risk students, the problem lies in providing quality out-of-school (OST) care for a large number of students at little or no cost to the families. In most instances, quality programs that lead to succesful outcomes often come with a participation fee....money that most low-income families cannot afford to spend. Currently there is also a major problem with capacity. A recent study by Afterschool Alliance showed the 3 out of 4 OST programs are full or overcrowded. Close to 90% of OST providers indicated that there are childen in their area that need afterschool care but do not have access to them. I applaud the President's efforts to put more money into OST programs but in order for such programs to be beneficial to students, they have to be more than glorified baby-sitters. Another great source for research on OST programs is the National Institute on Out-of-School Time: http://www.niost.org/ While I would never question the value of a quality afterschool program, especially for at-risk students, the problem lies in providing quality out-of-school (OST) care for a large number of students at little or no cost to the families. In most instances, quality programs that lead to succesful outcomes often come with a participation fee….money that most low-income families cannot afford to spend.

Currently there is also a major problem with capacity. A recent study by Afterschool Alliance showed the 3 out of 4 OST programs are full or overcrowded. Close to 90% of OST providers indicated that there are childen in their area that need afterschool care but do not have access to them.

I applaud the President’s efforts to put more money into OST programs but in order for such programs to be beneficial to students, they have to be more than glorified baby-sitters.

Another great source for research on OST programs is the National Institute on Out-of-School Time:

http://www.niost.org/

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Matthew Petty Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:23:26 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1182#comment-751 Lengthen the school year, shorten the school day, and add more after school programs. Better yet, transcend the notion of "after-school" programs and incorporate more of those activities into the curricula. Most activities present opportunities for fulfilling a variety of framework requirements. Because the real problem is that teachers with innovative lesson plans usually don't have the resources or support they need to take them to the next level. They either don't have enough of the students' time or institutional buy-in. Lengthen the school year, shorten the school day, and add more after school programs.

Better yet, transcend the notion of “after-school” programs and incorporate more of those activities into the curricula. Most activities present opportunities for fulfilling a variety of framework requirements.

Because the real problem is that teachers with innovative lesson plans usually don’t have the resources or support they need to take them to the next level. They either don’t have enough of the students’ time or institutional buy-in.

]]> By: Mr. Mack http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Mr. Mack Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:12:23 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1182#comment-750 Ya'll are downright timely! "We all talk about what is what out here and point fingers at one another. ... These kids need something to do," Greyer said. "It's not gang-related. They get out of school -- once they're in school it's cool. Once they get out of school, the school says 'Forget 'em.' That's wrong. Get them some after-schooling programs, some recreation centers 20 hours a week." http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/20/illinois.teen.beating/index.html Ya’ll are downright timely!

“We all talk about what is what out here and point fingers at one another. … These kids need something to do,” Greyer said. “It’s not gang-related. They get out of school — once they’re in school it’s cool. Once they get out of school, the school says ‘Forget ‘em.’ That’s wrong. Get them some after-schooling programs, some recreation centers 20 hours a week.”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/20/illinois.teen.beating/index.html

]]> By: Mr. Daniel http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Mr. Daniel Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:27:02 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1182#comment-748 Even though I agree with the arguments that more targeted interventions are both cost efficient and better at addressing specific issues of individual students, there are a couple negatives that come with after-school programs. As Coach Mack demonstrates, the common association we have with after-school programs is that they are more recreational and exploratory in nature. If the debate on extending the school day is primarily focused on keeping children off the streets for a longer period, then after-school programs are definitely a preferable alternative. However, if the intent is increasing student achievement in core subjects, then I'm not certain that after-school programs can have the same impact. Providing remediation outside of "regular" school hours takes on the connotation of being punishment (just ask summer schoolers). Also, after-school programs would be much more optional in nature, as opposed to the extended school day. From prior teaching experiences, it is more often than not the case that the students/parents with the greatest needs for such programs are least likely to be the participants. Even though I agree with the arguments that more targeted interventions are both cost efficient and better at addressing specific issues of individual students, there are a couple negatives that come with after-school programs. As Coach Mack demonstrates, the common association we have with after-school programs is that they are more recreational and exploratory in nature.

If the debate on extending the school day is primarily focused on keeping children off the streets for a longer period, then after-school programs are definitely a preferable alternative. However, if the intent is increasing student achievement in core subjects, then I’m not certain that after-school programs can have the same impact. Providing remediation outside of “regular” school hours takes on the connotation of being punishment (just ask summer schoolers). Also, after-school programs would be much more optional in nature, as opposed to the extended school day. From prior teaching experiences, it is more often than not the case that the students/parents with the greatest needs for such programs are least likely to be the participants.

]]> By: Coach Mack http://mid-riffs.com/2009/10/why-lengthen-the-school-day-after-school-programs-are-more-cost-effective/comment-page-1/#comment-747 Coach Mack Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:09:01 +0000 http://mid-riffs.com/?p=1182#comment-747 As a former inner city high school teacher and coach, I cannot stress how much after school programs do to help both students and schools. Students relate to coaches and non-traditional caregivers in a way that they do not relate to their regular classroom teachers, and keeping kids off the streets from 3-6 keeps them alive. It was by no means uncommon to have to bring kids inside during practice because of nearby gunshots, gunshots that many of my kids would have probably been caught in had they not been hitting batting practice. Drama, sports, tutoring, and other supplemental activities are the types of programs that develop the positive school culture that successful inner city schools are utilizing to rapidly increase student achievement. Similarly, by having these programs after school, more class time can be committed to core subject instruction. I have to say I think I'm for targeted programs rather than across the board longer school days. I would hazard the guess that most middle and upper class kids come home to environments that are at least as safe and intellectually stimulating as programs after school, and these programs should target the kids that don't. As a former inner city high school teacher and coach, I cannot stress how much after school programs do to help both students and schools. Students relate to coaches and non-traditional caregivers in a way that they do not relate to their regular classroom teachers, and keeping kids off the streets from 3-6 keeps them alive. It was by no means uncommon to have to bring kids inside during practice because of nearby gunshots, gunshots that many of my kids would have probably been caught in had they not been hitting batting practice.

Drama, sports, tutoring, and other supplemental activities are the types of programs that develop the positive school culture that successful inner city schools are utilizing to rapidly increase student achievement. Similarly, by having these programs after school, more class time can be committed to core subject instruction.

I have to say I think I’m for targeted programs rather than across the board longer school days. I would hazard the guess that most middle and upper class kids come home to environments that are at least as safe and intellectually stimulating as programs after school, and these programs should target the kids that don’t.

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