Chapter 5, the school year
After-School Enrichment Programs: Benefits and How to Choose
After-school enrichment keeps learning going on ordinary weekdays, not just in July. This page explains what it is, what the research does and does not show, what to weigh against it and how to choose well.
What is an after-school enrichment program?
An after-school enrichment program is an organized activity for children outside the regular school day that goes beyond the core lessons, for example arts, science, coding, sport, drama, chess or tutoring.
The term covers a lot. Some programs are run by schools, others by community groups, libraries, clubs or private providers. Enrichment is different from homework help. Homework help is about finishing assigned work, while enrichment adds experiences and skills the school day does not always cover. Many programs mix the two. This site is independent and does not run, endorse or enroll children in any program; it only explains what to look for.
What are some after-school activities examples? Robotics, creative writing, orchestra or choir, art studio, soccer, gardening club, debate, cooking, board-game clubs and reading groups are common.
Benefits of after-school programs
Plausible benefits include supervised time, extra practice, new interests and social connection. The research evidence on academic gains is limited and depends on program quality.
The Institute of Education Sciences published a practice guide, Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement, in July 2009. It makes five recommendations: align the program academically with the school day, maximize student participation and attendance, adapt instruction to individual and small group needs, provide engaging learning experiences and assess program performance and use the results to improve it. Only one of the five, adapting instruction to individual and small group needs, was rated as having moderate evidence; the other four were rated minimal. So the research supports some design principles but does not promise automatic academic gains.
The free versions deserve a note. What are the benefits of free after-school programs? The practical one is access: a child whose family cannot pay for private classes can still get structured, supervised time, a point that matters because, as a 2011 RAND report on summer programs notes, learning loss tends to fall hardest on lower-income students. Whether a program helps still depends on the quality and on whether the child attends often.
Drawbacks of after-school programs to weigh
The main disadvantages of after-school programs are cost, tiredness and over-scheduling, uneven quality, transport and unreliable attendance.
- Cost and time. Fees, transport and pick-up add up, and the schedule may be hard for working parents.
- Tiredness. After a full school day some children need downtime, not more instruction.
- Quality varies. A program with trained, engaged staff differs a lot from a supervised waiting room. The IES guide stresses engaging learning experiences for a reason.
- Attendance is hard. The RAND report on summer programs notes that many programs suffer from low attendance, and that quality and attendance drive results.
- Overload. Several activities every weekday leave little room for play, family time or sleep.
How to choose an after-school enrichment program
Visit, ask about staff and a typical session, and match the activity to your child's interests and energy. Start with one program, not five.
- What does a typical hour look like, and who leads it?
- How does the program connect with what your child does at school?
- What is the group size, and can the staff adapt to your child?
- Does your child want to go? Interest predicts attendance.
- Does the schedule and transport work for your family on a normal week?
Cost
Costs differ widely, from free community clubs to paid private providers. Ask whether fees can be reduced, split over time or waived, and whether the school or library offers a free alternative. Questions about price are best put directly to the provider, since this site cannot quote fees.
Grants
How do you get grants for afterschool programs? In general, parents do not apply for them: funding goes to organizations. According to the US Department of Education's guidance, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is a federal grant program that supports before-school, after-school and summer learning activities, including academic enrichment and tutoring; state education agencies award subgrants to eligible organizations. A parent can ask a school or community group whether a program is funded this way, and whether it has scholarship places. Organizations that want to apply should start with their state education agency. Rules change, so check the current guidance.
After-school learning activities at home
If a program does not fit, ten to thirty minutes of reading, a project or a game at home can give some of the same benefits at no cost.
Try a reading half hour with a snack, a weekly kitchen or craft project, a nature walk or a family game night. The principle that the IES guide highlights, engaging learning experiences, applies at the kitchen table as well. For concrete ideas, see summer learning activities for kids, which work all year round, and the plan for how to prevent summer slide over the long break.