Quality After-School
Care Programs are Important to Students' Academic Success
Disadvantaged students who regularly attend top-notch school-age
care programs end up, after two years, academically far ahead of their
peers who spend more out-of-school time in unsupervised activities
according to findings of an eight state school-age study. The Promising
Afterschool Programs study examined 35 programs, selected for
their record of success, serving 2,914 students in 14 communities
stretching from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Seaside, California.
Education Week (November 28, 2007; www.edweek.org),
described how the study worked:
"Researchers divided students into three groups: a
'program only' group of students who attended their afterschool
program two or three times a week and did nothing else outside the
school; a 'program plus' group who visited the afterschool programs
two or three times a week and also took part in sports, church
programs, music lessons, or other extracurricular activities; and a
'low supervision' group who dropped in on a mix of afterschool
activities from one to three days a week. The researchers found, over
the course of the three-year project, that the more engaged students
were in supervised afterschool activities, the better they did on a
range of academic, social, and behavioral outcomes. For instance, 3rd
and 4th graders in the 'program plus' group tallied gains on
standardized mathematics tests that were 20 percentile points higher
than those of children who rarely went. The frequent attendees also
made more progress in developing sound work habits, task persistence,
and better social skills, and in reducing negative behaviors such as
skipping school or fighting."
Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program Benefits the Tampa Schools
by Patricia Hawke
A constitutional amendment was passed in November 2002 that established the
Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program for all four year olds in the state of
Florida. The program benefits not only the children but the Tampa schools, as
well, by preparing children for kindergarten and beyond.
Documented studies have shown that preschool is one of the best investments
for any city and its youth. A California study found that, for every dollar
spent on preschool, the city and schools save $2.62. This savings is realized
through lower juvenile crime and high school dropout costs. Another study showed
that Tampa schools' children will be more likely to read by the third grade,
less likely to require remedial education, and more likely to graduate high
school and enter college. The savings for the Tampa schools come from the
decrease in remedial classes and program to keep students in school that would
otherwise be required.
For the Tampa schools' area, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough
County (ELC) administers the VPK program. They ensure that the future Tampa
schools children develop the skills necessary to become good readers and
successful Tampa schools students. The VPK program includes standards for
literacy skills, appropriate currcula, substantial instruction periods,
qualified instructors, manageable class sizes, and appropriate accountability.
Parents may choose from the school year program of 540 hours that begins in
the fall or the summer session of 300 hours. VPK is free to all four year olds,
whose parents are residents of Florida. Parents are responsible for costs for
any care before and after classes, as well as transportation. The VPK hours are
paid by the state. Providers are not permitted to charge a registration fee or
require parents to agree to any additional services in order to receive the VPK
services.
The first year of implementation for VPK was the 2005-2006 school year and
summer session, during which the program served more than 100,000 Florida four
year olds (approximately 40 percent of all four year olds in the state). Close
to 66,000 children already have registered for the 2006-2007 school year, as of
August 3rd.
For Hillsborough County, in which the Tampa schools are located, more than
7,100 children have registered. This is up from last year's 6,700 for both the
fall and summer sessions.
Tampa schools' area VPK providers, however, have been slow to sign up this
year, according to ELC's executive director, Dave McGerald. Also, many Tampa
schools' area providers did not renew their contracts until late in the summer.
McGerald does expect to serve as many as 10,000 children this year, which
includes those in the Tampa schools' area.
Even though VPK classes have begun in the Tampa schools' area, children can
be enrolled for six months after the session starts. The sooner children are
enrolled, however, the more benefits they receive.
About the Author
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free,
in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a
nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For
more information on Tampa schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Florida/Tampa/index.html
