As part of the program, teachers supervise classes of 15 students grouped by instructional grade level and ability. Schools also have the option of using additional staff consisting of teacher aides and volunteers. The small group setting is designed to provide students with more personalized instruction to meet their individual needs. Transportation is not provided, but federal resources are employed to provide the students with dinner. When organizing this afterschool programming the goal was to attend to all aspects of the children's well-being, including nutrition.
Food is certainly a physical requirement.
Education officials view this as just a beginning and plan to continue the program next year. It's our hope that schools will dedicate financial resources in their own budgets to create similar programs. The Chicago Public Schools is the nation's third largest school district and the second largest employer in Illinois with more than 43,000 employees, serving more than 422,000 students in 557 schools.