Research and training by institutions of higher education can further support after school initiatives. Summary Changing patterns of labor force participation have made after school programs for elementary and middle school students essential for more and more families. After school learning provides an effective approach for advancing student academic performance and achieving positive developmental outcomes among groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. For many children at risk of academic failure, after school programs provide places where instruction received during the regular school day can be supplemented or reinforced. A central ingredient for program success and sustainability is collaboration among schools, community agencies, and institutions of higher education.
College students can provide needed tutoring and homework assistance.
Articulation with early academic outreach initiatives makes after school programs a resource for fostering participation in higher education by students from underrepresented groups. Collaborative research with these programs provides the opportunity to develop important knowledge concerning promising new strategies for extending learning opportunities for at-risk students. One component of these partnerships has been university student Service Learning in after school programs in low-income communities. This has involved undergraduates interested in careers in education and many other fields such as human services, the visual and performing arts, science, mathematics, computer sciences, child development, psychology, and social sciences. Serving as tutors, providing homework assistance, and introducing a range of learning and recreational activities drawing upon their many skills, these undergraduates significantly enhance the opportunities available to participating elementary and middle school students.