Kids need to learn outside classroom
Learning can’t stop when school lets out.
The school day and school year account for less than half a year. Only 180 days, seven hours per day. That is not enough time to learn and practice all the skills children need to succeed. Learning can’t stop when school lets out for the day or for summer.
Think about all the ways children learn out of school: They take swimming and music lessons, participate in clubs and sports, visit museums and parks, go to camp. Kids love these activities, but they’re also acquiring knowledge and essential social skills.
But too many low-income children don’t get these opportunities. Montgomery County data suggest that only about 10 percent of elementary students have access to afterschool programming; that number drops drastically for young people in 6th grade and up.
This lack of opportunity virtually ensures our highest-need children will struggle to keep up with their more well-off peers — in school, at college and, ultimately, on the job. As one researcher puts it, we’re getting kids ready for a big game, but we’re only letting some on the practice field.
Learn to Earn Dayton released a report this year called Know the Gap, Close the Gap. (Read it online at LearnToEarnDayton.org.) It shows the heart-breaking achievement gaps between groups of Montgomery County young people. The gaps in kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, graduation from high school and college degrees can, in many ways, be traced to the fact that too few children have opportunities out of school.
National and local studies show children benefit immensely from afterschool and summer programs.
Their reading and math scores improve.
They get homework help and tutoring.
They’re less likely to get in trouble at school, and they have better attendance.
Children aren’t the only beneficiaries. Parents also report that summer and after-school programs help them to keep their jobs.
Here in Montgomery County, we’re working to ensure more children have the chance to keep learning out of school. Schools and after-school providers have won highly competitive multi-year federal 21st Century Learning Center grants that will bring $4 million into our community targeted to low-income children.
We’ve also attracted funding from national organizations like Building Educated Leaders for Life and others who are impressed with our community’s focus on ensuring children attend quality programs.
Meanwhile, under the leadership of the United Way of Greater Dayton and Montgomery County, and with support from the City of Learners Committee, more than 20 of our region’s summer learning programs and funders have come together to create standards that ensure students will benefit from programming.
Children are learning a lot at school, but we’re cheating our kids if learning stops when school lets out.