In Las Milpas, a south Texas colonia, 39 children aged 7-12 participated for at least 6 months in an after-school health promotion program that included activities related to communication skills, behavior self-management, and cultural appreciation. Compared to a nonparticipant control group, participating children had higher self-esteem and more…

Tested the effectiveness of a community-based intervention designed to promote physical activity among rural fifth graders. Data on students who participated in after-school and summer programs and home, school, and community interventions indicated that the after-school and summer interventions were implemented as planned, but the home, school,…

Documents the rapid expansion of after-school programs and emphasizes the importance of program quality. Identifies the characteristics of quality programs and offers four "principles for principals" for those who wish to introduce or improve after-school programs in their schools. (Author/MLF)

Notes that the Title I Program at the Upper Darby School District (located on the western boarder of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) created the T.O.A.S.T. (Title One After School Tutorial) program from the need for extended learning time and opportunities to assist struggling young readers. Concludes that students increased their sight word…

Describes successful programs for latchkey youth in public libraries. Information was gathered from 17 libraries described in the book "Latchkey Children in the Library Community." Four years later, four libraries expanded their programs, seven modified them, and six no longer offered programs. (JKP)

Describes the efforts of a teacher to create an after-school drama program where none existed before in a blue-collar area of Pennsylvania. Explains how an original production, "Voices from Middle School," was developed and performed through combining her after-school volunteer drama classes with an in-school poetry class. (PA)

Describes Project EXCEL (Excellence in Community Educational Leadership), educational project addressing educational needs of Hispanic community. Identifies six models of Project EXCEL (Academia del Pueblo, Project Success, Project Second Chance, Parents as Partners, Teacher Support Network, and Family Reading) and then discusses the first of…

Studied programmatic features associated with successful after-school programming at the Manchester Youth Development Center, an urban center with 25 years of experience. Identifies six salient elements in program success that might be used in holistic prevention and intervention planning. (SLD)

Describes the design, development, and implementation of a technology-rich after-school program for middle schools called KLICK (Kids Learning in Computer Klubhouses). Topics include learning activities; learning environments; constructivism; social and organizational arrangements; collaboration; the culture of schooling; and issues of innovation,…

Describes the Evening Science program, a science enrichment program for K-6 students and their parents where students and parents engage in problem-solving activities that encourage science learning for the whole family. (JRH)

Describes adolescent girls' responses to an after-school physical activity program, examining how it functioned as a listening tool within a social marketing approach to promoting physical activity. Focus groups and interviews indicated that girls enjoyed and valued the program. Though the program did not increase girls' physical activity levels,…

Paints a portrait of a 7-year-old girl, her mother, and their experience at a community-based, after-school youth program in a public housing development, demonstrating how stories taken from the field can illustrate the power of peer education and motivate community based organization staff toward more inspired educational after school…

Using research conducted at an urban youth theater program, this paper demonstrates how young artists play organizational roles and act with a sense of agency comparable to that of the corporate world. The paper helps those working in school- and community-based after-school programs see new partnerships and programs as both possible and…

Because adolescent girls' faltering confidence affects their academic performance and their social and emotional lives, after-school intervention programs are warranted. Mature enough to balance camaraderie with control, college students can develop excellent rapport with this population. Finding a student coordinator is a first step. (Contains 20…

Reports on a study that examined the obstacles women science educators faced as they facilitated Explorers, an after-school science program for girls aged 6-12. The program provides girls with opportunities to legitimately participate in science activities. (Contains 39 references.) (Author/YDS)