Author: Afterschool Alliance

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13:

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In classrooms across the country, when students hear the bell ring at 3 p.m., it signals the end of the school day and, for many, the start of an afternoon without supervision, without productive activities and without direction. Afterschool and summer learning programs are filling the invaluable role of providing essential services--such as a safe and supervised environment, academically enriching activities, healthy snacks and meals, and caring and supportive mentors--to children and families most in need of support. The need for these afterschool and summer learning programs is especially vital in African-American and Latino communities, communities that are experiencing higher levels of poverty, homelessness and food insecurity, and are facing disparities in education and access to extracurricular activities. Funding for afterschool and summer learning programs is a sound investment that will help meet the demands of, and bring much needed services to, African-American and Latino communities by: (1) Ensuring children have access to academically enriching activities, helping close the opportunity gap between higher-income and lower-income families; (2) Tackling the achievement gap between white students and African-American and Latino students by increasing attendance, homework completion and engagement in school, and ultimately raising graduation rates and test scores; (3) Combating food insecurity among children by providing nutritious snacks and meals, which are especially important during the summer months when schools are out of session; and (4) Providing working parents with peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe and supervised space during the out-of-school hours. At a time when afterschool programs serving communities that are in most need of help are struggling to keep pace with demand, greater investments at the federal, state and local levels are essential to make certain all children have access to the range of benefits afterschool and summer learning programs provide and are better equipped to succeed in school and life.

Download or read book The Importance of Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs in African-American and Latino Communities. Afterschool Alert. Issue Brief written by Afterschool Alliance and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In classrooms across the country, when students hear the bell ring at 3 p.m., it signals the end of the school day and, for many, the start of an afternoon without supervision, without productive activities and without direction. Afterschool and summer learning programs are filling the invaluable role of providing essential services--such as a safe and supervised environment, academically enriching activities, healthy snacks and meals, and caring and supportive mentors--to children and families most in need of support. The need for these afterschool and summer learning programs is especially vital in African-American and Latino communities, communities that are experiencing higher levels of poverty, homelessness and food insecurity, and are facing disparities in education and access to extracurricular activities. Funding for afterschool and summer learning programs is a sound investment that will help meet the demands of, and bring much needed services to, African-American and Latino communities by: (1) Ensuring children have access to academically enriching activities, helping close the opportunity gap between higher-income and lower-income families; (2) Tackling the achievement gap between white students and African-American and Latino students by increasing attendance, homework completion and engagement in school, and ultimately raising graduation rates and test scores; (3) Combating food insecurity among children by providing nutritious snacks and meals, which are especially important during the summer months when schools are out of session; and (4) Providing working parents with peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe and supervised space during the out-of-school hours. At a time when afterschool programs serving communities that are in most need of help are struggling to keep pace with demand, greater investments at the federal, state and local levels are essential to make certain all children have access to the range of benefits afterschool and summer learning programs provide and are better equipped to succeed in school and life.