New Orleans Afterschool Leaders Recognize LEAP Increases

Increased number of afterschool programs part of improved academic performance

NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 6, 2008)—Citing national research that ties afterschool program attendance to increased academic achievement, New Orleans afterschool leaders credit the improvements in LEAP scores to an increase in the number of New Orleans schools offering afterschool programming.

"Today's announcement regarding the increase in LEAP scores by New Orleans students is a strong endorsement of the quality afterschool programs we have throughout all New Orleans public schools," stated Gina Warner, Executive Director of the Afterschool Partnership. "We join with our colleagues at the Recovery School District, the New Orleans Public Schools and the local charters in celebrating this achievement."

Research on afterschool participation consistently demonstrates positive effects for children, especially those who attend programming regularly. Afterschool helps children to feel safe, be ready to learn, and be more invested in their school communities, according to recent studies by research groups such as Rand, Casel, and the Harvard Family Research Project. Afterschool program participation can also improve children's social development, decrease high-risk behavior, and reduce truancy and drop-out rates.

The number of afterschool programs in New Orleans has risen dramatically since Hurricane Katrina, with 47% of all New Orleans schools offering some kind of after school programming, including academic tutoring, arts, music and cultural enrichment and recreation. This represents a 22% increase from the 2006-2007 school year. These afterschool programs provide learning opportunities and activities, and serve children in schools throughout the RSD, NOPS, Algiers, and charter districts.

"Afterschool is the best time to take up the threads from the school day and weave them into a colorful tapestry using arts, music and New Orleans cultural heritage," stated Claudia Barker, Executive Director of New Orleans Outreach. "Students use geometry to create a mural or they learn math while playing the piano. Young people are drawn to our programs because this is learning made visible."

"In the current educational landscape, the children of New Orleans need and deserve access to high quality afterschool so they remain active and engaged in their own academic and personal development," Warner continued. "The success of New Orleans students on the latest round of high-stakes LEAP testing is a credit to the leaders, principals, teachers, care-takers, and dedicated afterschool and youth providers who collaborate to help the youth of New Orleans achieve academic success and assume their rightful place as contributing members of our community."

"Afterschool plays a significant part in our children's lives," said Cyndi Nguyen, Executive Director at Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training (VIET). "Not only do our programs piggyback on what students are learning at school, but we also prepare non-English speaking students to meet the English standards required to pass LEAP. In addition, afterschool helps families by providing supportive services to working parents, links students to practical learning and creates a safe and structured learning environment."

The Afterschool Partnership is the intermediary organization leveraging resources to programs that serve children and youth during "out of school" hours in New Orleans. The Partnership maintains strong connections between community groups, schools, government agencies, and families. Serving as this critical link, the Partnership strives to fill any gaps between existing local youth systems and to create a strong infrastructure that effectively supports the children and youth of New Orleans.

For further information about this topic, visit the Afterschool Partnership's website at www.gnoafterschool.org or call (504) 304-9591.