Extended Learning Opportunities

Overview

Extended Learning Opportunities was established in September 2001 to enable and support schools in offering a variety of high-quality programs that support academic instruction and enrich the development of children outside the regular school day. Currently the office supports three categories of after school programs: Academics, Enrichment, and Community Schools. In total, these programs serve approximately 200,000 in over 500 elementary and high schools.

Goals

We provide after school programs year round, three to four hours a day, five to six days per week, 39 to 47 weeks per year. As a result of participating in after school, we expect that:

Students will see increased academic performance
Students will attend school more often
Students will be more engaged and excited about their learning experience
Parents will take a more active role in their student’s education
Schools will see a positive change in school climate
Teachers will have higher expectations for students and will be more involved and/or invested in the school

Current initiatives

We support three categories of after school programs: Academics, Enrichment, and Community Schools:

After-School All-Stars (Enrichment)
After School Counts (Academic)
Community Schools (Academic and Social Enrichment for students and families)
Enrichment Academies (Enrichment)
Keep Kids Learning (Summer Enrichment)
Step-Up to Third Grade (Academic)
Tuition-based After School (Enrichment)
Tutoring (SES) (Academic)

Accomplishments

A great deal of research proves that participation in out-of-school time activities is critical for the social, academic, and emotional development of students. Here is a list of our accomplishments:

In 2007, students participating in the academic tutoring program were found to achieve 5% more in reading and 13% more in math than were eligible students with similar achievement and demographic characteristics who did not receive tutoring.
Students participating in both the After-School All-Stars Program and the CPS sponsored academic after-school program After-School Counts receive an added benefit from participation in after-school. These students have markedly greater math achievement gains and better regular school day attendance and behavior, than do students who only participate in either After-School Counts or After-School All-Stars.
Schools in the Community Schools initiative have steadily closed the gap in achievement between themselves and CPS as a district.
In addition to improvements in grades and achievement, CSI participants demonstrate improved performance across several other school domains including quality of homework, class participation, and class behavior.