Extended Learning Office After School Programs
The Extended Learning Office:
- works with Baltimore’s After School Strategy, the Center for Summer Learning, and BCPSS staff to increase the quality and quantity of out of school time opportunities for Baltimore City students by developing strategies for maximizing resources and increasing the effectiveness of programs; impact on academic outcomes.
- initiates and builds stronger partnerships between out-of-school time programs and BCPSS in an effort to create a community dedicated to supporting children’s learning.
- facilitates the sharing of information between the BCPSS and community-based providers.
Master Plan Alignment 2006-2008
Goal 1: All students will reach high standards at a minimum attaining proficiency or better in reading/language arts and mathematics
Goal 5: All students will graduate from high school
After-School Program Plan (ASPP)
All schools are required to complete an After-School Program Plan if they are planning to have an After-School Program.
The After-School Program Plan is designed to provide a mechanism to review and approve all After-school programs designed, funded, and implemented by schools/principals and their partners (if applicable) for students.
Vision Statement
The long-term goal of BCPSS is to provide all students with access to a high-quality, cost-effective after school programs that reinforce learning and engage students in a range of experiences and opportunities needed beyond the school day to become successful school, family and community members.
Standards for Effective Out-of-School Time (Extended Learning) Programs
These ten essential standards listed below will guide the planning and implementation of all extended learning opportunities in the Baltimore City Public School System.
- Academic Alignment/Achievement
A quality program has its staff work closely with school staff to ensure that after-school academic components and activities are aligned with and enrich school standards and curriculum.
- Environment/Climate
A quality program provides a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for all participants.
- Administration/Organization
A quality program has a well-developed infrastructure and sound fiscal management to support and enhance worthwhile programming and activities for all participants.
- Relationships
A quality program develops, nurtures, and maintains positive relationships and interactions among staff, participants, parents, and communities to support the program’s goals.
- Staffing/Professional Development
A quality program recruits, hires and trains diverse staff members who value each participant, understand their developmental needs, and work closely with families, school partners and co-workers to achieve the program goals.
- Programming/Activities
A quality program provides a well-rounded variety of activities and opportunities that support the physical, social and cognitive growth and development of all participants.
- Youth Participation/Engagement
A quality program provides opportunities for youth to participate in planning, to exercise choice and to engage in a rich variety of offerings and opportunities.
- Parent/Family/Community Partnerships
A quality program establishes a strong partnership with families and communities in order to achieve program goals.
- Program Sustainability/Growth
A quality program has a coherent vision/mission and a plan for increasing capacity that supplies continuing growth.
- Measuring Outcomes/Evaluation
A quality program has a system for measuring outcomes and using that information for on-going program planning, improvement and evaluation.
These standards will form the basis for the BCPSS approach to out-of-school time program development and assessment.
Review of Research & Commentary on Out-of-School Learning
The following citations and commentary from experts in the field of out-of-school time learning provided a framework for discussion at the focus group meetings:
- A recent study comparing students’ access to out-of-school time learning found great disparities based on income. More affluent children received enrichment programs while low-income children received only remediation, regardless of whether they needed it (Littell & Wynn, 1989).
- Low-income and minority parents are considerably less likely than their higher-income peers to find quality, affordable, and available out-of-school-time programs for their children (Public Agenda, 2004).
- Designing a system to bring after school services to all, or even most schools and students is an unfinished and still daunting enterprise nearly everywhere (Tony Proscio and Basil Whiting, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).
- After school programs are uniquely positioned to encourage a more supportive bridge between home and school (Blinda J. Wilson, Nellie Mae Foundation).
- On school days the hours between 3 and 6 pm are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.(Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 2002)
- The abilities involved with dealing with the visual arts, with sculpture or painting, with drama, mime, use of the body, with music, all represent separate sets of cognitive skills. If we omit these areas from the curriculum, we are in effect, shortchanging the mind (Dr. Howard Gardner, Harvard Project Zero).
- A recent U.S. Department of Education report found that children involved in out of school time programs “have better grades and conduct in school, more academic and enrichment opportunities, better peer relationships and emotional adjustment, and lower incidences of drug-use, violence, and pregnancy.”
After-School Programs in BCPSS
- Baltimore Out-of-School Time Initiative (BOOST)
- BCPSS Chess Project
- Chess in Maryland Schools
- Baltimore Urban Debate League (BUDL)
- Maryland’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers
- Scrabble Club
- School Initiated Programs
- Title I Sponsored After-School Programs
Additional Links for After-School Program Information
Open Society Institute - http://www.soros.org
Safe and Sound Campaign - http://www.safeandsound.org
The After-School Institute - http://www.afterschoolinstitute.org
After-School Alliance - http://www.afterschoolalliance.org
|
