Advocates

The hours after school are a critical time for youth. Quality after-school programs help keep students safe, healthy and inspire them to learn. Quality after-school programs also help working families and save taxpayers money. Here’s how:

Safety: Students who are on their own and unsupervised after school are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as smoking, using drugs and alcohol and becoming sexually active. Additionally, they are more likely to become victims of crime or accidents (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center and the Afterschool Alliance).

Health: After-school programs can and do play a role in promoting healthy lifestyles for youth. A study of after-school programs shows that obesity was significantly lower among program participants (21 percent) compared to non-participants (33 percent) (Mahoney J., Lord, H., & Carryl, E., Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005).

Learning: Quality after-school programs improve student grades and test performance, increase school attendance and improve homework completion and quality. Students who participate in after-school programs are also less likely to repeat a grade (U.S. Department of Education, National Dropout Center).

Helping families: Parents miss an average of eight days of work per year due to a lack of after-school care. Decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about their children in after-school hours costs businesses up to $300 billion per year (Community, Families and Work Program at Brandeis University, 2004, and Catalyst and Brandeis University, 2006).

Saving money: Funding after-school programs is a smart, long-term investment for our communities and state. Every dollar invested in after-school programs saves taxpayers approximately $3 in reduced crime and welfare costs (Rose Institute at Claremont McKenna College).

Quality after-school programming includes an array of safe, structured programs that provide school-age youth with supervised activities designed to encourage learning and development outside of the typical school day.

Common elements of successful out-of-school time programs include:

• Strong management, quality staff
• Low staff-to-student ratio (1:15)
• Attention to students’ safety, health and nutrition
• Strong family involvement
• Enriching learning opportunities
• Links with school curriculum and school teachers
• Evaluation of program effectiveness
• A clear mission
• A supportive emotional climate
• Collaborative partnerships with the community and law enforcement

For more information see:

National Conference on State Legislatures on Expanded Learning Opportunities: The NCSL Education Program collects information relating to state and federal education issues, including Expanded Learning Opportunities. Here you can learn about innovative state models of after-school, summer learning and other expanded learning programs.

National Governors Association on Time and Learning Reform: The NGA Center supports governors and their staffs on education policy issues through focused projects, direct technical assistance and policy analysis.

After-school programs in South Dakota are as unique as the students they serve.

There are many different providers of programs. Public schools, religious organizations, private schools, YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs are among the most prevalent providers in the state.

There are different types of programs including drop-in/intermittent, licensed and accredited. Licensed programs are those that provide regular care to children. Drop-in or intermittent programs are not required to be licensed. National accreditation, which is optional, assures a program has met more rigorous standards and is optional.

Programs serve students before school, after school, during summer vacation and some offer weekend programming.

Programs are held in a variety of buildings including schools, community centers, churches, program-owned buildings and armories.

Most programs offer a variety of activities including arts, career preparation, character education, community service, cultural enrichment, family activities, health and wellness, homework help and tutoring, mentoring, physical activity, reading science and technology.

Some programs offer state and nationally recognized programs and curriculum such as:

Destination Imagination

First Lego League

SD Cooperative Extension Service

SD Discovery Center GEMS Kits

State Historical Society Education Kits

SD Department of Health Curriculum

SD Game Fish and Parks Education Kits

After-school program leaders report funding is one of their greatest challenges. Programs often succeed by diversifying funds from a variety of sources:

• Parent fees
• Fundraisers
• Municipal funds
• 21^st Century Community Learning Center funds
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding
• Child Care & Development Fund
• Workforce Development funds
• Department of Education funds
• Juvenile Justice funds
• Child & Adult Nutrition Program
• Drug Free Schools funding
• Supplemental Services (Title funds)
• Local sources such as: Thrivent Financial Fund matching program, civic organizations, Realtors for Kids and local churches
• United Way

With 76% of South Dakota parents with school-age children working outside the home, South Dakota has a great need for quality after-school programs. The chart below shows that more programs are required in South Dakota to meet the needs of our school-age children and their families.

This information is taken from a survey by America After 3PM. South Dakota families were surveyed to see how many children are in after-school programs, how many are unsupervised after school and how these numbers compare to five years ago. America After 3PM provides the most comprehensive and accurate picture to date of what this nation’s youth are doing each day after school. With a sample size of nearly 30,000, the report provides an in-depth view of every state in the nation.

The numbers demonstrate the unmet needs of afterschool in South Dakota:

76: The percent of South Dakota parents who work outside the home leaving many children to care for themselves. This is the highest rate in the nation.

48,000: The number of South Dakota’s school-age youngsters that take care of themselves after school while waiting for their parents return home from work.

32,844: The number of South Dakota students whose parents say would be likely to participate in an after-school program if it were available in their community (America After 3pm).

40: The percent of low-income eighth graders compared to only 17 percent of high-income respondents,according to a nationwide study, who do not participate in any organized after-school activities . After-school programs are not equitably distributed. Low-income youth are much less likely than their more affluent peers to have access to after-school programs (US Department of Education).

92: The percent of voters who say that there should be some type of organized activity or place for children and teens after school every day

There are several key areas in which strategic policy efforts could greatly enhance after-school programming:

• Developing the capacity of the after-school system

• Defining, building, measuring, and improving program quality

• Ensuring access for disadvantaged youth, especially older youth

• Determining desired outcomes and collecting data for program evaluation

• Connecting after-school to the broader education reform discussion

Policy updates concerning after-school programs and funding will be posted here as they become available.

Below is a list of link Web site links/organizations you may find helpful:

Afterschool Alliance An alliance of public, private, and nonprofit groups committed to raising awareness and expanding resources for after-school programs.

Common Core Standards Initiative Provides a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them.

Council of Chief State School Officers: The Council’s Expanded Learning Opportunities project was established in 1998 to build state capacity to articulate clear policy actions that chiefs and other state-level officials can take to strengthen ELO quality, improve access, and ensure positive outcomes for students.

Fight Crime Invest in Kids An anti-crime organization of over 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and violence survivors who look at research about what prevents kids from becoming criminals and puts that information in the hands of policymakers and the general public.

Finance Project Helps leaders make smart investment decisions, develop sound financing strategies, and build solid partnerships that benefit children, families and communities.

Harvard Family Research Project Helping stakeholders develop and evaluate strategies to promote the well being of children, youth, families and their communities.

Make It Stick highlights changes in education that are making a difference.

National Afterschool Association The leading voice of the after-school profession dedicated to development, education, and care of children and youth during their out of school hours. NAA is the national affiliate to the South Dakota School Age Care Alliance.

National Conference of State Legislatures: NCSL focuses on time and learning reform to ensure expanded learning opportunities (ELOs), such as afterschool, summer learning, and extended day programs, are an integral and effective part of state education systems.

National Governors Association: The goals of the NGA Center’s work on time and learning reform is to help governors and their education policy advisors increase the time children spend learning, boost flexibility in the education system and make more efficient use of learning time.

National League of Cities Institute for Youth Education and Families: This institute works with municipal leaders to create or expand systems of high-quality afterschool opportunities for children and youth.

National Summer Learning Association Connects and equips schools and community organizations to deliver quality summer learning programs to our nation’s youth to help close the achievement gap and support healthy development.

New Day for Learning A 21st century vision for learning that builds on a foundation of core academics by leveraging community resources to incorporate strategies such as hands-on learning, working in teams and problem solving.

South Dakota Department of Social Services Out-of-School time Provides resources for schools and communities who want to offer structured and safe environments for children when they are not in school through grants, training, technical assistance and program development.

South Dakota School Age Care Alliance Promotes quality Out-of-School Time programs for children and youth through professional development and public advocacy.

South Dakota Voices for Children the only nonprofit, statewide organization in South Dakota that has as its sole purpose improving the lives of all South Dakota children through program and policy advocacy. South Dakota Voices for Children serves as the lead organization hosting the South Dakota Afterschool Partnership.

Stay informed on Afterschool:

Sign up to receive newsletters and e-mail alerts about state and federal policy issues and the latest publications on research and best practices in the after-school field.

Tell Your Friends: One of the easiest things you can do to support after-school programs is to tell others about why your community needs these programs. Public support and concern can turn after-school into a priority for community leaders and policymakers.

Nearly everyone has a stake in after-school programs:

• Teachers and parents will want to know that after-school programs keep kids safe, improve academic achievement, increase school attendance and support young people’s positive and healthy development.
• Law enforcement and your neighborhood watch will want to know that after-school reduces juvenile crime.
• Your co-workers and employer will want to know that after-school programs can alleviate child care and safety worries of working parents.

Tell Your Leaders: The support of a school board member or superintendent, city council, mayor, governor, legislator or Congressional representative can make the critical difference in the success of after-school in your community. Find contact information for your leaders.

Participate in a Lights On Event! Watch this website for information about Lights On events in South Dakota and visit the Afterschool Alliance to learn more about Lights On Afterschool.

Involve your business: There are many reasons, and many opportunities, for the business community to join the after-school movement. After-school programs support working parents and guardians by providing a safe, enriching environment for youth during work hours. Additionally, after-school programs develop tomorrow’s workforce by teaching them crucial skills. To learn more, please read Business and Afterschool: The Perfect Partnership.

Start an After-school Program: The vision of the South Dakota Afterschool Partnership is that every child of school age will have access to enriching opportunities in a safe and healthy environment during out of school time. You can help the children in your community have access to enriching after-school opportunities by starting a program. The South Dakota Department of Social Services Division of Child Care Services provides technical assistance to start after-school programs.

Invest in our work: Support the work of the South Dakota Afterschool Partnership through a monetary donation.

The South Dakota Afterschool Partnership is interested in learning more about your experiences as a student, parent, teacher, provider, policymaker or advocate on after-school in South Dakota.

Please submit positive stories to be highlighted on this website. If chosen you will be contacted for more information prior to posting your story! To have your program highlighted please email the following information to: afterschool@sdvoicesforchildren.org.

• Your story
• A photo, if possible
• After-school Program Name
• City
• State
• Program contact (name, phone and email address)
• Your contact (name, phone and email address)