Afterschool programs

OUR IMPACT DOESN’T END WHEN THE SCHOOL BELL RINGS IN THE AFTERNOON.

Funding from the DPS Foundation provides safe, enriching and academically supportive afterschool programs for more than 2,100 DPS students every year. Nearly 62 percent of DPS students qualify for free & reduced lunch, a key indicator of poverty. This can also mean that thousands of students are left without a structured, safe environment after school. Many students are going home to an empty house, without a healthy snack, or adequate adult supervision, and their chances of getting into trouble are increased.

Compared to their peers not enrolled in such programs, students enrolled in regular DPS afterschool programs exhibit:
• Better school attendance
• Lower suspension rated
• Higher academic growth across reading, writing and math

THIS PROGRAM MAY QUALIFY FOR A SPECIAL TAX BENEFIT.

What your support will do.

Afterschool programs are more than just a place to spend a few hours. They are a critical supplement to school-day learning, providing additional instruction, enrichment and leadership development programs for students. Afterschool programs are a place for students to feel safe, have fun, and engage in enriching educational activities.

Why our kids need this programming.

Research shows that afterschool programs can reduce barriers to youth success for students who are facing challenges such as low academic achievement, poverty and truancy. Students in afterschool programs have fewer behavioral problems, greater self-confidence, and can handle conflict better than students who are not enrolled in these programs. And national studies show parents without regular afterschool care for their children miss eight more days of work per year than their peers whose children are in regular afterschool programs.

Lights on after school

Lights On After School (LOAS) provides funding to ensure the sustainability of quality, school-based afterschool programs that keep our students engaged in enriching learning experiences during the critical 3– 6 p.m. hours. These programs provide a tremendous service for DPS students, families, and communities throughout Denver and makes it possible for community organizations to provide a wide range of programming at DPS elementary and middle schools including:
· Art classes
· Chess club
· Ballet
· Computer classes
· Photography
· Foreign language courses
· College-prep classes

If you’d like to donate to afterschool programs, please call us at 720-423-3553.