Previously, these students received academic credit toward graduation. This summer, they will instead be paid as participants in the Summer Youth Employment Program. A new Chicago Public Schools program will extend the school day for some 12,000 elementary students as part of an initiative to boost elementary reading and math scores. Although the 1996 Iowa Tests of Basic Skills results showed an increase in the percentage of CPS students scoring at or above the national norm, it is still far below the national norm. 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.