Community schools serve as service hubs in their neighborhoods and communities, uniting families, educators, and community partners to accelerate equitable student outcomes in health, education, and employment. AIR’s community school experts work with education agencies, schools and districts, universities, and other stakeholders to promote student growth and development by removing barriers to learning and providing access to new, integrated learning opportunities to support whole child development.
Afterschool and Expanded Learning
How students spend time outside of the classroom—before and after school and during breaks and summer vacation—has a tremendous impact on what they achieve in school and in life. Quality expanded learning opportunities extend learning and positive youth development beyond the school bell and engage students who might otherwise be left behind. Our work in the afterschool and expanded learning field supports the creation, evaluation, improvement, and maintenance of high-quality afterschool and expanded learning programs in a variety of ways.
Our Work
AIR’s afterschool and expanded learning group works with education agencies, schools and districts, foundations, and other stakeholders to ensure young people’s educational experience fosters positive growth and development. In particular, the members of our team
- conduct rigorous research on afterschool program quality, youth engagement, and program impact;
- deliver professional development, consultation, training, and ongoing support via presentations, trainings and technical assistance, and through the broad dissemination of coaching models to help afterschool program leaders and staff create, improve, and maintain excellent programs;
- monitor and conduct multi-method evaluations at state and local levels to assess the quality and effectiveness of afterschool and expanded learning programs; and
- provide state and national leadership in promoting policies that will create broader access to and support for high-quality afterschool and expanded learning programs.
