May 10, 2005

New United Way effort fosters school and after-school collaboration

BOSTON -- United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB) is kicking off a new effort this week to develop and strengthen partnerships between teachers and after-school program staff. The strategy is fueled by academic research that shows that bringing together these influential resources will help boost a child’s success in learning. UWMB’s goal is to bring these sectors together, identify the barriers and benefits to working collaboratively, and provide incentives to build new relationships.

On Thursday, May 12, Massachusetts Department of Education Commissioner David Driscoll and Janet McKeon, Director of Policy and Training for the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, are kicking off United Way’s “Connecting School and After-School” Summit. The event is designed to stimulate growth of new partnerships between these sectors and incubate new ideas.

“Research suggests that neither after-school programs nor schools – in isolation – will be able to provide all that is needed for children and youth to reach their full potential,” said Milton J. Little, Jr., president and chief executive office at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “Connecting each piece of a child’s day – home, school and after-school – will foster positive relationships and enhance social and academic development. Creative collaboration between school teachers, after-school staff and families makes a big difference for kids.”

Schools and parents, for example, are beginning to realize the potential of after-school programs to engage students more deeply in the learning process because of the emphasis on one-on-one attention from adults, the recognition of different learning styles and the hands-on, experiential activities. The out-of-school sector also has much to benefit from strengthening ties to the school day and understanding the in-school curriculum and learning objectives.

Close to 200 school and after-school staff are expected to attend United Way’s “Connecting School and After-School” Summit on May 12 at the Boston Children’s Museum. Dr. Gil Noam, director of Harvard University’s Program in Afterschool Education and Research will speak about the different ways that schools and after-school programs can connect. Dishon Mills, Boston Public Schools After-School Programs Coordinator, will also be on hand to address the ways that families, schools and out-of-school programs play a vital role in a child’s life.

After the summit, school and after-school staff will be encouraged to form teams and submit proposals for $5,000 to $10,000 mini-grants to put ideas into action. The United Way effort is supported by funds from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.

Media inquires should contact:
Jeff Bellows
Phone: 617-624-8250
Fax: 617-624-9114
E-mail: jbellows@uwmb.org