After School Programs

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See how after-school programs are evolving to better serve students and provide enriching experiences.

Recommended Reading

Parents Want After-School Programs, But Demand Far Outpaces Supply
Parents value the programs, but low- and middle-income families especially struggle to secure places.

Latest Video

This After-School Program Is Improving Students’ Reading, One Black History Book at a Time
An after-school program seeks to teach its students about Black history and improve their reading scores at the same time.

More on After School Programs

High school seniors Tavan Zadeh and Zane Aridi take part in the Huron River Watershed Council's annual “Insect Identification Day” in Ann Arbor, Mich., part of a growing movement to enlist nonscientists in gathering data for real science scientific investigations.
High school seniors Tavan Zadeh and Zane Aridi take part in the Huron River Watershed Council's annual “Insect Identification Day” in Ann Arbor, Mich., part of a growing movement to enlist nonscientists in gathering data for real science scientific investigations.
Sylvia Jarrus for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Students and Researchers Team Up to Create 'Citizen Science'
Whether it involves enlisting students to collect bugs in Michigan or star-gaze in Massachusetts, citizen science projects could be the next big thing for hands-on science education.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 2, 2019
8 min read
Treasure López, 8, stretches during yoga club after school at Doull Elementary School in Denver. In addition to yoga club, the school uses “reflection yoga” twice a week as a replacement for after-school detention for students who misbehave.
Treasure López, 8, stretches during yoga club after school at Doull Elementary School in Denver. In addition to yoga club, the school uses “reflection yoga” twice a week as a replacement for after-school detention for students who misbehave.
Rachel Woolf for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Ditching Detention for Yoga: Schools Embrace Mindfulness to Curb Discipline Problems
As more schools aim to address students’ social and emotional needs, some are using meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices to address misbehavior and stress. But the research on the effectiveness of such practices is mixed.
Sasha Jones, May 23, 2019
9 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Connecting Students to the World Through Food Studies
Ideas for integrating food into the classroom from guest blogger Sarah Anderson.
Sarah Anderson, April 22, 2019
7 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion A Process for Advancing Equity in Youth Programs
Bringing in youth voice is critical to designing equitable programs, says guest blogger Kate Walker.
Kate Walker, April 16, 2019
6 min read
Christal Corey, right, a 7th grade achievement coach in the Higher Achievement after-school program at Boushall Middle School in Richmond, Va., works with Tedi Johnson, 13, left, and Micah Lemons, 12. The program is geared to helping middle school students nab a spot in college-prep high schools near their homes.
Christal Corey, right, a 7th grade achievement coach in the Higher Achievement after-school program at Boushall Middle School in Richmond, Va., works with Tedi Johnson, 13, left, and Micah Lemons, 12. The program is geared to helping middle school students nab a spot in college-prep high schools near their homes.
Julia Rendleman for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness This Program Preps Middle Schoolers for Top-Notch High Schools
With an intensive blend of academic and social-emotional supports, the Higher Achievement after-school program is helping middle schoolers in under-resourced communities land a spot in top public and private high schools near their homes.
Catherine Gewertz, April 3, 2019
6 min read
Raymahl Sutton, left, a former CEO and founder of a Raleigh, N.C., startup, talks about the company with “C Squad” participants Katie Hunter and Wesley Hawkins.
Raymahl Sutton, left, a former CEO and founder of a Raleigh, N.C., startup, talks about the company with “C Squad” participants Katie Hunter and Wesley Hawkins.
Courtesy of Wet Paint
Student Well-Being & Movement These Students Are Already Solving Problems for Local Businesses
An after-school program in North Carolina teaches teenagers to collaborate and problem-solve by tasking them with real work-world problems drawn from their community.
Marva Hinton, March 20, 2019
7 min read
Every Student Succeeds Act Report Roundup After-School Programs
After-school programs can help schools support students' reading and math achievement, social-emotional development, and their likelihood of graduating high school, finds a research analysis.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 11, 2019
1 min read
Assessment News in Brief N.H. Initiative Would Offer Students Credit for Out-of-Class Learning
An education initiative being pushed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu would incentivize learning outside the classroom.
The Associated Press, February 26, 2019
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Resources to Support Social-Emotional Learning
Culturally sensitive resources for developing SEL skills in students are available.
Kate Walker, November 28, 2018
6 min read
Quinton Crump, 11, paints a model of Uranus in his after-school program at Isaac Litton Middle School in Nashville, Tenn. The city’s after-school programs get data from the school system so they can tailor lessons to students’ needs.
Quinton Crump, 11, paints a model of Uranus in his after-school program at Isaac Litton Middle School in Nashville, Tenn. The city’s after-school programs get data from the school system so they can tailor lessons to students’ needs.
Joon Powell for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement After-School Programs Keep Learning Going With Student Data
Through a city-school partnership in Nashville, Tenn., after-school programs are using data to tailor lessons to students' learning needs.
Sarah D. Sparks, November 27, 2018
7 min read

Coverage of afterschool learning opportunities is supported in part by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, at www.mott.org. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.