The Case for After-School

Eighteen months ago, Dallas ISD and Big Thought began forming plans for a free after-school program for the elementary and middle schools in the district. Recognizing that it was a great complement to existing Thriving Minds community efforts, Big Thought began developing the logistics of the program and pursuing funding. We received a 21st Century Learning Center grant from the Texas Education Agency in 2008, hired more than 100 new full- and part-time employees and set up shop in 20 elementary and middle school sites all over the city in October 2008. Now in year 2, the Thriving Minds After-School Program offers free after-school care including homework help, academic tutoring and creative enrichment programs from 3-6pm, Monday through Friday, to 2,000 students in Dallas.

There's been a lot of buzz about after-school lately, with the release of the Afterschool Alliance's America After 3pm data. Despite 26% of Texas schoolchildren still being left unsupervised between the hours of 3 and 6pm (up from 24% in 2004 and tied with the national average), Texas still ranks in the top 10 states as far as after-school supply and demand.  However, of those top 10, Texas is one of only 3 not meeting the after-school demand with a statewide program, which places more responsibility on the individual organizations - like the YMCA, Dallas Afterschool Network, and ourselves, with the Thriving Minds After-School Program - to meet the demand. Currently, 51% of Texas schoolchildren not in after-school would be likely to participate if it were available to them; that's well over a million students statewide.

Though an increasing number of parents and students recognize the need for after-school care, cost of the program and transportation issues are consistent barriers to access. And families are not the only ones recognizing this need: David Kunkle, chief of the Dallas Police Department, wrote an Op-Ed article for the Dallas Morning News recently about the benefits of after-school programming. Kunkle sees it as a deterrent for three important issues facing Dallas students: dropout rates, juvenile crime and the participation in risky behaviors such as drugs and gangs. Here are some of the things he pointed out:

• Every $1 spent on after-school saves taxpayers $8 to $12 that would later be spent on crime, welfare and other costs.
• Right now, 100,000 Dallas County children between the ages of 5 and 13 are left unsupervised after school, and those kids are less likely to graduate.
• The students who need after-school the most - in low-income areas - are still the least likely to receive it, due to space issues.

Considering the current state of the economy and the fact that many parents are having to work multiple jobs just to stay afloat, it is more important than ever that our children are receiving proper after-school care and supervision. Thriving Minds After-School is devoted to providing a safe place for students to spend those critical hours between 3 and 6pm, as well as offering new opportunities that enhance their classroom learning. To learn more about our after-school program or any of the others listed here, visit the links above. Also, if you have the time and inclination, look into volunteering to help out at a local program.