"Kids with someplace to go, end up…going places!"

After school programs keep kids safe, ... and inspire success among youth.

Kids who participate in after-school programs earn higher grades, have improved attendance, behave better in school and are more apt to graduate.

• Kids in after-school programs show an increased interest in school
• Kids in after-school programs express greater hope for the future.
• There is growing evidence that quality out of school opportunities matter- that they complement environments created by schools and families and provide important nutrients that deter failure and promote success - and that they matter in ways that are observable and measurable.
• After school programs can offer intangibles such as - the opportunity to engage in activities that help young people realize they have something to contribute to the group; the opportunity to work with diverse peers and adults to create projects, performances, and presentations that receive accolades from their families and the larger community; and the opportunity to develop a vision of life's possibilities that with commitment and persistence, are attainable.

The information above was attained from http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/site/pp.asp?c=enJJKMNpFmG&b=854685