Workshop presenter Toy Dryfoos predicted that in the future all schools would remain open during afternoon and evening hours and on weekends. Examples are the programs of the Children's Aid Society Community Service Schools in New York and the West Philadel- phia Improvement Corps. They build on the strength of school systems to foster a learning environment during school hours and the ability of community-based organizations to bring into the school the best in youth development practice, integrated with whatever health and social supports are needed in a particular community. The scope, focus, and structure of programs are expected to respond to the variety of priorities identified by different con- stituents, as well as the cultural and developmental needs of children and adolescents. It has not been established that a single program can be all things to all people, and therefore understanding the diversity in scope, focus, and structure of programs is useful.
Some programs are comprehensive in scope and some are topic specific.
Some address multiple content areas, including academics, career development, health, recreation, and culture, while the scope of others, such as a sports program or an arts program, is one content area. Programs may serve a limited age range, while others engage all school-age children and adolescents in a given community or geographic area. Programs for older adolescents may also incorporate community service and ways for young people to work and earn money. Programs also vary in the extent to which they supervise young people. This is an important differ- ence, particularly for parents who are looking for supervised child care and need to ensure that a program is monitoring attendance.