Citizen Schools :: Resources

Public Policy

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Resources

In this section, you will find:

Citizen Schools Publications
Research on Out-of-School Time
Useful Links

Citizen Schools Publications

Proceedings of the 2006 Reimagining After-School Symposium

Realizing the American Dream by Eric Schwarz

Proceedings of the 2004 Reimagining After-School Symposium

Out-of-School Time Research

The Future of Children: When School Is Out - This issue of the Packard Foundation's journal, The Future of Children, includes articles by leading out-of-school time researchers, an issue guide, and recommendations for the field.

Learning Beyond School: Developing the Field of After-School Education - Harvard Professor Gil Noam and his research team explore the educational potential of after-school programs by establishing closer ties or "bridging relationships" between programs and schools.

Critical Hours: Afterschool Programs and Educational Success - In this report, Dr. Beth Miller synthesizes the available research on after-school programs, paying special attention to their effect on the academic achievement and overall development of middle school students. Her conclusion: after-school programs can make a valuable contribution to children's school achievement.

Useful Links

The Afterschool Alliance, a coalition of public, private and non-profit groups, is dedicated to raising public awareness and increasing funding for after-school programs. They are a leading supporter of expanded government funding for after-school programs, particularly at the federal level.

Afterschool.gov is a clearinghouse of federal resources that support out-of-school time providers, programs and advocates. It provides information to help understand the issues that face youth and fund, start and operate an after-school program. This site offers one-stop access to government resources that support after-school programs.

The Finance Project is a national initiative to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of public and private sector financing for education, other children's services, and community building and development.

Forum for Youth Investment is a national initiative dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of youth investments and youth involvement in United States by promoting a big picture approach to planning and policy development. Its goal is to create strategic alliances among the full range of organizations that invest in youth.

The National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), housed at Wellesley College, is the nation's oldest out-of-school time advocacy group. NIOST's efforts focus on research & evaluation, policy development & public awareness, and training & curriculum development.

The National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA) provides an umbrella organization to link people who work with school-age children and youth in a wide variety of settings during out-of-school hours. NSACA promotes national standards of quality school-age care for children and youth 5-14 years old and grants accreditation to programs meeting the standards.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education.

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Public Policy

21st Century Skills

The research of Dr. Richard Murnane of Harvard and Frank Levy of MIT shows that half of U.S. high school graduates do not have the "new basic skills" to succeed in the 21st century economy – skills such as the ability to solve semi-structured problems, work in groups of people from diverse backgrounds, and the ability to engage in complex communication. Without these abilities, high school graduates will not possess the skills employers are looking for and they will be destined for service sector jobs that do not pay enough to support a family.

Citizen Schools' after-school apprenticeship programs can be a crucial and unique resource for teaching the 21st century skills students need to succeed in the modern economy. By participating in the program as a member of a team of 8-12 students, our young people learn the teamwork and leadership skills they will need in the future. Our apprenticeships also provide an opportunity to learn and practice complex oral and written communication skills and data analysis skills they will need to succeed.