Please join us 11/4 and 11/10 for webinars in the Fall 2009 series presented by
Afterschool Partnership.

School innovation includes evidence-based and cost-effective expanded learning time initiatives that can be replicated in schools and districts across Louisiana as a key strategy to transform school performance and increase academic success. Nationwide, education systems and community-based partners are rethinking the school day to effectively build the knowledge and skills all young people need to succeed in the 21st Century. President Barack Obama and Secretary Arne Duncan have both called for investment in effective afterschool programs, summer school, and adding additional time to the school year in order to increase the amount of time for learning. The federal stimulus package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), offers an unprecedented opportunity to implement successful and sustainable expanded learning time initiatives across Louisiana schools.

November 4, 2009
The Power of Summer Learning
2:00 – 3:00 pm CENTRAL
Panelist: Earl Martin Phalen, Summer Advantage USA

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/121127771
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Bridge the achievement gap by reversing summer learning loss. Summer Advantage USA is a national provider of educational programs for children. Students who participate in the evidence-based programs receive 160 hours – or 20 days – of additional educational services over the summer months, enabling them to make strong academic and social gains. At low-cost, programs go beyond summer remediation to offer rigorous, curriculum-based academic instruction in literacy and math, physical fitness, art, music, drama, guest speakers, field trips, and community service projects. The result is that while most children living in low-income communities lose two months of reading, writing and math skills during the summer, children participating in Summer Advantage USA gain two months of skills. Learn how to give your students the Summer Advantage.

November 10, 2009
New York City’s Expanded Learning Time Initiative
2:00 – 3:00 pm CENTRAL
Panelists: Lucy Friedman, The After-School Corporation
Sean Davenport, Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/627058026
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Expanded Learning Time/New York City (ELT/NYC) is a three-year demonstration project that seeks to expand learning time by at least 30 percent in 10 New York City public and middle schools, with more than 2,300 students enrolled. The After-School Corporation (TASC) manages the project, which launched in the 2008-09 school year, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education and the Department of Youth and Community Development. Its goal is to improve the academic achievement of young people while supporting their healthy social, physical, creative, and civic development. The initiative is being independently evaluated. The ELT/NYC project helps school leaders reorganize their schools to integrate their existing resources with those of partnering community-based organizations, with additional funds raised from public and private sources. Each school gathers teachers, parents, and community partners under the principal’s leadership to chart curriculum and activities tailored to the school’s goals for its students. Learning time is expanded to 6 PM every day school is in session to meet the needs of working parents. Every ELT activity responds to a specific social, cultural, or academic need of students. Compared with many afterschool programs operated by community organizations in public schools, activities are more directly connected to the school day.

Interested in an Expanded Learning Time Initiative in Your School?
Expanded learning time is more than extending the hours a student is in school. It is a thoughtful, coordinated approach to align extended day programs – afterschool, remediation, and summer programs – to support academic achievement. Afterschool Partnership offers technical assistance to educators and community-based partners interested in designing an Expanded Learning Time Initiative planning process and implementation in their district or school. Since 2002, the Afterschool Partnership promotes high-quality learning opportunities for school-age children and youth during the out-of-school hours through technical assistance, training, policy development and quality improvement. The Afterschool Partnership connects community-based organizations and school-based programs with innovative solutions, best practices research, policy expertise, and training on national standards in youth development to create successful support systems for student learning.

For more information, contact Dara Lum Shackelford, Policy Director, at dlum@gnoafterschool.org or call (504) 304-9591 ext. 33.

Webinar System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer