Getting Started Tips: Advice and Links for Setting Up a Full-Time-Learning Program

Want to start a full-time learning model in your community? Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or community member, these tips will help you get started.

Do your research.

• View this site and others for ideas about what type of program you want to create, for which age groups, and during which hours.
• Review academic standards. Always make sure standards fold into the project.
• Talk with leaders from similar programs for background information.
• Document your needs and findings.

Recruit good people.

• Principals should play an active role.
• Recruit people with strong leadership skills and connections to the community.
• Ask colleagues, parents, and friends to help. Assign specific roles and tasks.

Develop a business plan.

• Highlight how the project benefits students.
• Refer to historically successful learning programs: Include essentials, such as the project goal, outline, funding ideas, resources, and directive.

Sell the project.

• Get the PTA and parent groups involved. Parents can participate directly (by becoming mentors) or indirectly (by recruiting their employers).
• Ask civic organizations and businesses for support.

Involve the students.

• Ask them to brainstorm their own full-time-learning programs.
• Encourage them to take part in the plan.

Links

• U.S. Dept of Education Afterschool Training Toolkit: Sample lessons, videos, and activities for developing after-school curriculum.
• CORAL Initiative: Methods and materials about Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning (CORAL), an initiative to create high-quality, out-of-school learning opportunities for youth in California.
• Center for Afterschool Education: Professional development, technical assistance, tools, and publications for building K-12 after-school programs.
• Partnership for After School Education: Child-focused organization offering after-school training programs and consultations for community leaders and educators.
• Mott Foundation -- New Day For Learning: Full report from the task force that inspired a "new learning" system and Edutopia's New Day for Learning site.