Issue Briefs

Credit for Learning: Making Learning Outside of School Count (Nov 2021)

Creating new and engaging learning opportunities for middle and high school students can help them find their inspiration, gain skills that will benefit them in and outside of the classroom, and play an active role in designing their own learning journey to reach their full potential. This issue brief, complemented by in-depth afterschool program profiles, explores the ways in which afterschool programs can provide older youth with opportunities to explore their interests and participate in activities that also allow them to earn credits toward their graduation requirements.

• Riverzedge Arts and Laconia School District’s Extended Learning Opportunities program: Integrating youth voice and student created curriculum to promote engagement
• YouthForce NOLA and L.E.A.D. Afterschool program: Creating a path for career exploration and readiness
• FabNewport: Fostering relationships to create a strong sense of belonging
• Sail Academy: Leveraging school partnerships to best serve students

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Afterschool Supports Service Opportunities from Youth to Young Adulthood (April 2019)

All individuals, regardless of age, can benefit from service opportunities. For youth, service-learning projects promote strong community ties and positive development outcomes, while experiential service programs promote similar personal and professional gains for young adults. This issue brief details the way in which afterschool and summer learning programs are expanding access and availability of service opportunities for youth and young adults alike. Accompanying this brief are six in-depth afterschool program profiles that highlight the different roles programs play in the healthy development of both the next generation and our democracy:

• Einstein Enrichment Program and Breakthrough Cincinnati: Connecting underrepresented youth and young adults to service
• Civic Nebraska and OregonASK: Enhancing future prospects through foundational skills and competencies
• Youth Health Service Corps and City Year: Creating an avenue for career exploration

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Featured Summary

Promoting Civic Engagement Through Afterschool Programs (Nov 2018)

Civic engagement, which has been linked to positive short-term and long-term outcomes including a stronger connection to the community and improved wellbeing, starts with young people. This issue brief, created in partnership with the Center for Global Education at Asia Society, details the way in which afterschool and summer learning programs are promoting students’ civic dispositions, bringing lessons of democracy to life, and empowering youth to enact change. Accompanying this brief are five in-depth afterschool program profiles that highlight the different roles programs play to inspire youth to be knowledgeable, engaged, and civically minded individuals:

• Alternatives, Inc. and Equity Alliance MN’s Youth Executive Board: Helping students know their rights and responsibilities
• After-School All-Stars Hawaii Life Service Action Offering opportunities for students to take action
• YWCA New Britain House of Teens Program and YMCA of Port Angeles’ Youth and Government program: Providing authentic opportunities for students to lead and govern

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Summary