Benefits and Feasibility of After-Hours School Programs

The purpose of this study was to document the experience of an after-hours program utilizing school facilities and to determine if regular scheduling of such a program would be feasible and beneficial for teachers, administrators, students and parents. A review of the literature revealed that after-school programs support activities of the regular school day by providing activities that offer academic enrichment and social interaction. Furthermore, the literature supplied convincing evidence that afterschool programs provide a link for the school population and community while providing parent involvement in the child's educational setting and learning activities. The trial program offered after-hours accessibility to the library/media center and the computer lab, was scheduled on a specific day and began in late afternoon rather than immediately after school. The facilities were open to all administrators, teachers, students and parents at the school and in the community for one night a week for five weeks. Thirty-eight parents, 63 students, and three teachers participated in the afterhours program. Participants used the after-hours facilities for reading, quiz taking, research, tutoring, social interaction with games, and homework review. The evaluation study included observation, interviews, and surveys. Findings suggested that administration and teachers supported an overall interest in the benefits and feasibility of an after-hours utilization of school facilities that helped students succeed and provided parent involvement. Students and parents supported an overall interest in the benefits and feasibility of an after-hours utilization of school facilities by their attendance and participation in the resources provided. The results of the study were communicated to the learning community by a discussion with the participants on the last night of the program with questions, answers, and future proposals being discussed. Future proposals made by parents included offering the after-hours program two nights a week and extending the time of the program. Through this study it was shown that utilizing school facilities for an after-hours program would be feasible and beneficial for teachers, administrators, students and parents. A future action research study using this program may be extended for a grading period or for an entire school year. Future research may include a beginning grade level assessment and an end of the year assessment per student. Research may include the study of weekly communication to parents, and include the study of extended time and increased nights per week for after-hours utilization of school facilities.Zahner, JaneBrovey, Andrew J.Mozzetta, DanielleEd. S.Instructional Technolog