How to Start an After School Program
If you're a teacher in an underserved school, you might realize a great need for after-school programs. Whether for children who are going to otherwise be stuck at home watching television in comfortable suburbia or for children who might fall into a high risk category with temptations for bad behavior, creating a program that continues to teach and assist students after the bell rings might be just the thing your community truly needs.
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Instructions
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Identify the need for the school or community. It's going to be hard to get anybody to listen to your plan if you don't have a clear grasp on a true need for it. You need to address who is likely to enroll in such a program, why it is needed and who exactly needs it. You may even gather signatures of parents if many have spoken about the issue. Talk about it at conferences or class meetings. If many people see the need for it, you are serving the community by starting the program.
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When you are starting out, you might want to start out the program on a broad basis. However, you might want it to be specialized. Perhaps you want to offer an after-school program of dance for kids with all levels of interest in the field. Perhaps you want to show children how to put feelings into art. It's best to start a general program that can address all the different needs of students, but it all depends on your situation. If many kids in the school are interested in sports, you might want to have the program on the playing field. You need to address how it is going to be specialized, if at all.
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Translate your ideas to how you will take action. Think about the adult-to-child ratio that should be appropriate for the program. Consider how many areas of the program will be offered--loud, medium volume and quiet study areas. Plan how you will offer the chance to play and learn new games and sports, chores or responsibilities that can help the children contribute to and appreciate the program. Also work out ways to tie in the daily school lessons and age study level to the play and work of the program, if tutoring opportunities will exist and how it can help children learn more effective and kind social interactions.
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To get money and workers for your program you will need to develop a program plan and budget. This budget can resemble a traditional business plan, with an explanation of who will benefit from the program and how exactly those children will benefit. It should explain the need in the community, and it should give a solution to how that need will be met by your program.
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Get approval for the program from your school. If a school approves such a program, it usually will set aside a certain amount of the school budget for the program. If you are truly passionate about the program but the school doesn't have the budget for it, suggest other funding methods, such as fund-raising by students themselves and finding private donors for the worthwhile cause.
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Let parents and students know about the program and the school's approval and support. If the school itself cannot be used for the program, think about hosting the after-school program elsewhere, such as at a nearby community center or park.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider opening a small business for children if you have greater ambitions than can be met through the program. If you want to teach dance to all grade levels, for example, you just might have enough of a niche and need in the community to host your own business for kids.
Don't employ individuals or accept volunteers to work with children who haven't passed a thorough background check.
