Extended School Days - Milwaukee after-school program as example

School Administrator, August, 2001 by Priscilla Pardini

In the Wellington, Kan., Unified School District 353, $1.1 million from the 21st Century initiative over three years funds three afterschool centers at one elementary school, the middle school and the high school. Ronald Fagan, superintendent of the rural 1,900-student district south of Wichita, says more than 300 of the district's 1,400 elementary students take part in the program, which runs until 6:30 p.m. daily.

The high school center operates from 6:30 to 10 p.m., so as not to compete with afterschool athletics and clubs. Students have access to computers and can work with tutors, mostly district teachers, in an informal setting. "It's a much more relaxed atmosphere at night, which has helped cement the teachers' relationships with the kids," Fagan says. "It's also helped improve attendance and get grades up."

Fagan says he believes schools no longer have the luxury of being able to close their doors at the end of the traditional school day. "I think we're expected to be here to serve kids almost 24 hours a day," he says.

Priscilla Pardini is a free-lance education writer in Shorewood, Wis. E-mail: pardini@execpc.com

Additional Resources

These places can provide more information about community schools and afterschool programs.

Resource Centers:

AfterSchool Alliance is a coalition of public, private and nonprofit organizations raising awareness about the importance of affordable and quality afrerschool programs funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Contact: 503 S. Saginaw St., Suite 1200, Flint, Mich. 48502. 810-238-5651. www.mott.org

Children's Aid Society is at the forefront of the community schools movement. It runs nine community schools in Manhattan and operates a technical assistance center to help communities across the country adapt its model. Contact: 105 E. 22nd St., Room 504, New York, N.Y. 10010. 212-949-4377. www.childrensaidsociety.org

Coalition for Community Schools mobilizes resources and multiple sectors to support the community schools movement. Contact: Institute for Educational Leadership, 1001 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 310, Washington, D.C. 20036. 202-822-8405. www.communityschools.org

Communities In Schools supports a nationwide, independent network of 154 local and 15 state offices serving 1,500 school sites in 243 school districts. CIS provides training and technical assistance. Contact: 277 S. Washington St., Suite 210, Alexandria, Va. 22314. 703-519-8999. www.cisnet.org

National Institute on Out-of-School Time advocates for quality programs, activities and opportunities during non-school hours. Contact: Wellesley College Center for Women, 106 Central St., Wellesley, Mass. 02481. 781-283-2547. www.niost.org

Research Studies:

"After-School Child Care Programs," by Deborah L. Vandell and Lee Shumow, in When School Is Out: The Future of Children, fall 1999, published by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. An examination of children's out-of-school time, focusing on the predictors and the developmental impacts of the afrerschool activities chosen by families. Available at www.futureofchildren.org