Board presidents support after-school programs

The survey is part of a two-year project on school board involvement in after-school programs.

The project also includes a new online resource center to help school boards develop and sustain high-quality after-school programs in their communities.

"It is very important for the public to remember that school boards are committed to provide high-quality after-school programs for all students and that they feel it is a valuable asset to the school day," says NSBA Executive Director Anne L. Bryant.

"The survey shows that school board members believe that the goal of high-quality after-school programs is to enhance academic performance and provide a safe, supervised place for students to be after school," Bryant says.

Of the 821 school board presidents surveyed, 81 percent said they have an after-school program in their district.

Among the other findings:

• Eighty-three percent of board presidents believe it is essential or very important that after-school programs remain open in their district.

• Eighty percent believe the main goal of after-school programs should be raising student performance.

• Eighty-two percent say their programs do a good or excellent job of assisting students who are struggling academically.

• Three-quarters believe the school board should have a large role in establishing the district's vision and policy on after-school programs.

• Fifty-two percent expect their after-school programs will have to be reduced or even cut entirely in the next few years due to proposed funding cuts.