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Research Shows Need Exists For
After-School Program
Every day, more than 14 million children in the U.S. are left
unsupervised after school. According to experts, that leaves them in
danger of becoming victims or perpetrators of crime or delinquent
behavior.
In fact, a recently released survey supports the need for quality
after-school programs that offer students homework assistance and
academic goal-setting to help deter kids from crime and substance
abuse.
Television is the No. 1 homework distraction, according to the Boys
& Girls Clubs of America/JCPenney Afterschool Fund Survey, which
questioned students about homework and on graduating from high
school. Sixty-seven percent of students said teachers should assign
homework, but 54 percent claim there is too much of it.
Also, most of the students surveyed said graduating high school was
very important to them, with 61 percent saying going to college was
their primary ambition after high school. The negative influence of
peers was cited as the greatest challenge to finishing high school.
To address these statistics, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the
JCPenney Afterschool Fund have partnered to create after-school
programs that, according to Julie Berkhouse, after-school specialist
for the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, emphasize the importance of doing
well in school and planning for the future.
"Numerous studies have shown that children involved in quality
after-school programs, including those that offer homework
assistance, have better grades, higher school attendance, better
attitudes toward school, higher educational aspirations and less
need for disciplinary action," said Berkhouse.
One such program is Power Hour. This interactive homework assistance
program helps young people view homework as an opportunity to learn
how to work independently, successfully complete a project on time
and feel good about their accomplishments.
Additionally, Goals for Graduation is a program for youth ages 6 to
15 that provides one-on-one activities to support academic
goal-setting, learning and success in school. Through an incremental
approach, students create an action plan with daily and weekly goals
- leading to both short- and long-term gains.
"Research shows that without significant educational support, many
young people are likely to accept low standards of academic
achievement, leading to unrealized potential and locking them into
limited opportunities for employment and life," said Carrie Prudente,
director of education programs for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
For more information, visit
www.bcga.org or
www.jcpenney_afterschool.org.
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