Working together is something that after-school providers can improve on, according to a new study.
Based on an examination of 100 large U.S. cities, the study by FHI 360, a nonprofit education research group based in Durham, N.C., finds that while citywide coordination of after-school programs is on the rise, many cities should do more on that front. It also argues that mayoral support is crucial to expanding and improving those programs.
The study found that more than three-quarters of the cities surveyed said they are increasing coordination in after-school programs in an effort to improve and expand services for children in need. It also notes that funding for program coordination has decreased in 34 percent of the cities over the past five years, held steady in 24 percent of them, and increased in only 9 percent.
The study was commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, which also provides support for coverage of extended and expanded learning in Education Week.
