Building the Field of Afterschool

More than ever, out of school-time is seen as a resource for children's learning and healthy development. But not just any program will do. Research shows that children need high-quality programs with skilled staff.

For all children to have access to programs that make a difference, high quality has to be the norm and the standard, not the exception. As a field, we need to:

• Identify best practices and effective content for programs with diverse goals, objectives, and resources
• Develop systems of effective education and training for skilled staff at all levels
• Establish indicators or standards for quality of programming, staffing, and training
• Address national policies and sustainability

The Center works to build the field of afterschool education by:

1. Contributing to system-building for quality efforts to establish and sustain effective staffing and leadership
2. Developing and building capacity for practical strategies to best reward: using afterschool time to support in-school success afterschool time to support in-school success
3. Advocating for afterschool as an additional educational space with distinct approaches

3. ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AS AN ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL SPACE WITH DISTINCT APPROACHES

The Center works with national, state, and local leaders to develop afterschool as an educational resource for children and families. This includes:

• Promoting afterschool education through presentations, articles, and publications
• Working with the US Department of Education and state networks
• Providing direct training on afterschool education
• Consulting with state education agencies, education leaders, school districts, principals, and administrators to implement effective afterschool education programming
• Identifying key leverage points for quality-building, such as homework time
• Researching and identifying areas in which afterschool can be most highly effective as a partner for children's success such as working with English language learners, immigrants, and their families
• Serving on national committees to address system-building for quality improvement
• Participating in field-led advocacy efforts

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