With many cities showing an interest in afterschool system building and research providing a growing body of useful information, this Wallace Perspective offers a digest of the latest thinking on how to build and sustain an afterschool system, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this promising work. The report (a follow-up to a…

This report describes the first year implementation of a new professional development program, Palm Beach County Afterschool Educator Certificate (PBC-AEC). Set within a larger systemic quality improvement effort in Palm Beach County, this training seeks to provide a concentrated course of learning, practice, and reflection. The training seeks to…

Effective professional development is accepted as necessary for the improvement of afterschool program quality, which is itself a cornerstone for improving youth outcomes. But professional development is most effective when both individual participants are engaged and building relevant knowledge and skills, and the organizations to which they…

The author documents development of the After-School Care Program in the Dade County School System and assesses the extent to which its clients agreed on the goals, staff, program, supplies, and facilities based on a survey of parents. Recommendations are included. (CH)

This report describes a before- and after-school program for children in prekindergarten through grade 5, implemented at a rural elementary school. The feasibility of the program was evaluated by a survey conducted at a Parent Teacher Association meeting. Because it has become more common for both parents to work outside the home, the number of…