25.054 - Harnessing the Full Potential of High-Quality After-School Programming: Approaches to Collaboration, Professionalization, and Innovation

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

After-school program providers are important educational entities and partners for schools, families and community institutions to improve educational opportunities. Yet, the goals of after-school programming are often not clearly carved out and the position of such services in the educational system is highly variable, ranging from unstructured opportunities for general care and time for play, to carefully planned and structured, academically enriched activities tailored to disadvantaged students. We bring together researchers from the US and Europe to discuss approaches to researching and evaluating after-school programming. The individual papers highlight diverse practice- and research-based strategies for program improvement, quality evaluation, professionalization and organizational development in the context of after-school learning programs.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Out-of-School Time

Chairs

• Michelle Nathalie Jutzi, University of Zurich

• Rebecca Mazur, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Papers

• Aligning the Delivery of Multiple Funding Sources as a Pathway to Improving Academic Support After School: Another Case for Building and Retaining High-Quality Professional Staff - Deborah L. Vandell, University of California - Irvine; Jenel K. Lao, University of California - Irvine

• Creating a Stronger Workforce: Toward Professional Development and Recognition of After-School Staff - Ellen S. Gannett, National Institute for Out-of-School Time

• Practitioners' Inclusive Beliefs: Views on Inclusion as a Basis for Multiprofessional Collaboration in Extended Education - Stephan Kielblock, Justus Liebig University of Giessen

• Innovation in After-School Programs: Effects of Professional Training on the Benefit of Collaboration - Michelle Nathalie Jutzi, University of Zurich

Discussant

• Rebecca H. Woodland, University of Massachusetts - Amherst