Please Note:
Currently, the Foundation is realigning its
program investments. It will continue to focus its grantmaking on strategies
that support underserved learners while building knowledge about how to
dramatically improve outcomes for the majority of New England's learners. While
the funding focus transitions to new program work, the Foundation is building on
what has been learned through successes in order to define the future. The
emerging program areas include early learning, the use of time in learning, the
examination of the pathways involved between secondary and postsecondary
education, and adult learning with a focus on postsecondary opportunities. Also,
as the new grantmaking focus takes shape, some of the Foundation's programs that
are currently funded under the original strategic initiatives (Adult Literacy,
College Prep, Minority High Achievement, and Out-of-School Matters!) will
continue to be funded under a new alignment.
Further details about the new strategic
direction are expected to be announced in January, 2008
Background
Today, far too many children, particularly those who are from low-income families, spend most of their out-of-school time in unsupervised, non-educational activities, which increase their vulnerability to risky behavior. However, research indicates children who participate in afterschool programs tend to behave better in school, have improved attendance and grades, achieve at higher levels in reading and math, and show an increased engagement in learning. There is also evidence that children who participate in high quality afterschool programs linked to in-school learning improve in both academic preparedness and achievement.Out-of-School Matters! was launched in 2001 in response to research that shows the importance of academic achievement in middle school—and the lack of funding for educational programs geared toward that goal. Since 2001, the initiative has created a portfolio comprised of six clusters representing 59 programs that in 2005 served 7,900 middle school youth in New England.
Focus
The focus of the Out-of-School Matters! initiative is to support education strategies that demonstrate the following beliefs:
- Homework help, tutoring and project-based learning activities in afterschool programs that are aligned with academic (school-based) learning can improve academic outcomes for middle school students
- Links between out-of-school program staff and in-school personnel improve student learning
- Opportunities for program staff to learn from peers, training and technical assistance improve program effectiveness
- Effective programs use evaluation to improve and assess learning outcomes
The majority of Foundation investments in direct service out-of-school programs are through collaborations with other partners. These fall into two main categories, City and State Collaborations, and Foundation-Directed Grants.
City and State Collaborations:
- Boston After-School for All Partnership: A collaborative five-year effort of 14 Boston-area funders to expand the availability of quality after-school programs. Emphasis is on improving the academic achievement of youth participants, and on leveraging public and private support for programs throughout the City of Boston. The Foundation supports the organizational capacity of the Partnership Office and directly funds Boston-based programs that meet the Foundation's funding criteria.
Community Schools Rhode Island: A collaborative five-year partnership with United Way of Rhode Island to promote academic achievement of middle school youth. Programs are located in the schools during non-school hours, and reflect the principles of the Community Schools model. The United Way provides technical assistance and monitors program development and evaluation.
The Middle School Initiative
The Middle School Initiative is a public/private partnership to expand the nationally recognized Citizen Schools after-school program. The program uses an experiential learning model to improve academic achievement among middle school students. Other partners involved in the Initiative include Massachusetts 2020, local United Ways from the participating communities, and the Balfour Foundation.
- Out-of-School Matters! New Hampshire: The Foundation’s partnership with PlusTime New Hampshire, a statewide technical assistance organization in New Hampshire, is aimed at expanding the opportunities for quality afterschool programs in the state, particularly in low-income and rural communities. This effort serves 8000 youth from 32 communities. As the Foundation's intermediary, PlusTime New Hampshire functions as the technical assistance and training provider for grant-funded programs.
Vermont Promising Practices Grant Program: Funded with the Vermont Department of Education, this program program ultimately helps afterschool programs improve middle school students’ academic and social development. This is done in part by developing and disseminating promising afterschool practices that create and enhance collaborations between in school and afterschool staff.
Foundation-directed Grants:
- Regional Out-of-School Matters! Cluster: This cluster consists of organizations - distributed throughout New England - that serve middle school populations, and share the goals and philosophies of Out-of-School Matters!
The Out-of-School Matters! initiative is also intended to advance knowledge within the field and influence policy at the state, regional and national level.
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