Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to document the experience of an after-hours
program utilizing school facilities and to determine if regular scheduling of such a
program would be feasible and beneficial for teachers, administrators, students and
parents. A review of the literature revealed that after-school programs support activities
of the regular school day by providing activities that offer academic enrichment and
social interaction. Furthermore, the literature supplied convincing evidence that afterschool
programs provide a link for the school population and community while providing
parent involvement in the child's educational setting and learning activities.
The trial program offered after-hours accessibility to the library/media center and
the computer lab, was scheduled on a specific day and began in late afternoon rather than
immediately after school. The facilities were open to all administrators, teachers,
students and parents at the school and in the community for one night a week for five
weeks. Thirty-eight parents, 63 students, and three teachers participated in the afterhours
program. Participants used the after-hours facilities for reading, quiz taking,
research, tutoring, social interaction with games, and homework review.
The evaluation study included observation, interviews, and surveys. Findings
suggested that administration and teachers supported an overall interest in the benefits
and feasibility of an after-hours utilization of school facilities that helped students
succeed and provided parent involvement. Students and parents supported an overall
interest in the benefits and feasibility of an after-hours utilization of school facilities by
their attendance and participation in the resources provided.
The results of the study were communicated to the learning community by a
discussion with the participants on the last night of the program with questions, answers,
and future proposals being discussed. Future proposals made by parents included
offering the after-hours program two nights a week and extending the time of the
program.
Through this study it was shown that utilizing school facilities for an after-hours
program would be feasible and beneficial for teachers, administrators, students and
parents. A future action research study using this program may be extended for a grading
period or for an entire school year. Future research may include a beginning grade level
assessment and an end of the year assessment per student. Research may include the
study of weekly communication to parents, and include the study of extended time and
increased nights per week for after-hours utilization of school facilities.