The research is clear: High quality after-school, before-school and summer learning programs, delivered through partnerships among schools and community-based organizations, contribute to student success.

This in turn helps to reduce at-risk behaviors that arise when children and youth are not occupied in some form of out-of-school activity, particularly during the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. After-school and summer programs not only increase student achievement, but provide a safe, structured environment with adults that encourage positive youth development.

Through many years of experience, we have been able to develop high quality programs throughout Wyoming that are cost-effective and delivered in a system that works in concert with classroom learning. Working together in partnership with schools creates a process that “wraps” services together through shared communication and strategies that not only eliminates service gaps, but reduces the need for more costly academic interventions.

Research from the anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids indicates that “there is a clear connection between educational success and decreased involvement in crime.” Further the study goes on to say that “only a one-year increase of staying in school reduces murder and assault by almost 30 percent, motor vehicle theft by 20 percent, arson by 13 percent and burglary and larceny by about 6 percent.”

This isn’t the only issue facing the citizens of Wyoming. Consider the loss of revenue to the state economy. When translated into dollars, the facts are startling:

n If graduation rates increased by only 5 percent, our economy would see a combined savings and revenue of $9.5 million annually.

n The state would save more than $22.8 million in health care costs over the course of the lifetimes of each class of dropouts had they earned their diplomas.

n $10.1 million could be saved per year in community college remediation costs and lost earnings if all students graduated ready for college or some form of technical education (Alliance for Excellent Education, October 2009).

We also know for a fact that early childhood education programs are extremely effective in increasing school success and reducing crime. Those children who are proficient in reading by grade 3 are more likely to be successful throughout the rest of their school careers.

Our children must be ready to compete in a global economy. A combined effort between school and community partnerships is essential to circumvent the obvious results of increased risky behaviors when children and youth are left on their own during critical hours after school.

The bottom line is we can pay a little now or we can pay much more later on. The cost of a student in after-school programs is about $1,000 per school year. Compare that to $100 per day for incarcerating a youth.

Do the math: Trying to reverse negative behavior is costly and time consuming, and often not successful. The rates of recidivism are high. If the focus is on prevention beginning at an early age, we can help to mold positive behaviors and attitudes by supporting healthy development through consistent mentoring and reinforcement from birth to young adult.

 

The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance is excited to announce that the organization has become a member of the National Summer Learning Coalition.  The Coalition urges federal policymakers to take the lead in ensuring that every child in the United States is safe, healthy, and engaged in learning during the summer. 

 

As afterschool providers, stakeholders and partners, we know that summer learning loss and other risks that young people face during the summer compromise the nation`s ability to close the achievement gap and support healthy development for all students.  Summer learning must become an essential component of education reform and youth development, not an afterthought that is vulnerable during difficult economic times.  At this time in particular, the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides a unique opportunity for United States Congressman and the Administration to lead in this direction, while leaving ultimate decision-making about program design to local communities.

 

For more information about the National Summer Learning Coalition, please visit their website at http://www.summerlearning.org

 

Also, click here to read the Coalition`s Founding Statement that includes member organizations.

The facts are clear: STEM and afterschool education are a natural fit.  Please check out the following report (by clicking on the link below), compiled by the Afterschool Alliance, about STEM and afterschool.

 

 

 

 

 

Please click on the link below to read a recent article in the Wyoming Business Report about WYAA`s statewide Research and Program Evaluation Project.

 

        Wyoming Business Report

 

For more information on the project, or how to become Quality Advisors or a Pilot Program Site, check out our website page devoted to the project.

(LANDER, WY) The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance (WYAA), an initiative of the Wyoming Community Foundation, has received a three-year grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation with matching funds from the Wyoming Department of Education (through 21st Century Community Learning Centers), the Wyoming Department of Family Services and the John P. Ellbogen Foundation to conduct a research project surveying the capacity of the public and private afterschool systems and to assess their effectiveness across Wyoming.  The project also involves setting up a system of Quality Advisors for afterschool programs in the state, rolling out a program self-assessment tool that will be piloted with as many as 25 Wyoming afterschool sites. 

 

WYAA is partnering with the National Institute of Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at the Wellesley Centers for Women in Wellesley, MA and The Third Mile Group of Denver, CO to complete the initiative.  Teams at the three organizations each with a long history of cutting-edge work in the education and afterschool fields will ensure a comprehensive assessment that benefits the state, afterschool programs, and children of all ages.  According to Ellen Gannett, Director of NIOST, "Our work in Wyoming is the first of its kind in focusing attention on the unique needs of a rural state.  While may policy and quality studies have been undertaken in urban areas across the country, far too often rural communities are left out of the equation.  I am thrilled to be a partner in this important research which will help to inform our understanding of the out-of-school environment in the mountain and western region of our country."

 

During Phase I, which will be conducted over the next six weeks, WYAA will identify Quality Advisors (QAs)a group of experienced afterschool professionals from across the state who will receive training on program evaluation and staff coaching.  Immediately following their March training, the QAs will travel across Wyoming observing afterschool programs and collecting data on their activities.  Over the course of the spring, the Third Mile Group will survey and interview Wyoming policy makers, program directors, educators, parents, and funders about their observations and the afterschool system`s capacity and effectiveness to serve the state`s youth.  NIOST will conduct a survey of afterschool programs evaluating the quality of programming and leadership indicators.  The three organizations will then work together to create an overview of the status of afterschool statewide.  It is anticipated that the results will inform both policy and practice in Wyoming.

 

Phase II and III of the project will involve piloting the NIOST Afterschool Program Assessment System in a group of Wyoming afterschool sites.  Youth workers at sites will be trained by NIOST staff with additional coaching and support provided by local QAs over the course of the year.  Each site will receive comprehensive reports based on their input to help guide their program improvement efforts.

 

"I am excited to be embarking on this project with NIOST and the Third Mile Group to assess Wyoming`s afterschool programming," states Linda Barton, Director of WYAA.  "Without question, we will learn things that will help improve the status of afterschool statewide, identify some key best practices and create Wyoming specific education and training opportunities for the afterschool workforce.

 

The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance is one of 39 statewide afterschool networks with the C.S. Mott Foundation and is part of the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks.  Established in 2007, WYAA supports and promotes high quality afterschool programs to improve positive outcomes for youth and their families and works to ensure that Wyoming youth will have access to high quality afterschool programs.

 

For more information on the National Institute of Out-of-School Time, visit: http://www.niost.org/.  For more information on the Third Mile Group, visit:  http://www.thirdmilegroup.com/.