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After-School Programs Can Help Teens at Risk of Dropping Out

By WTOP Staff

The hours between 3-7 p.m. can be risky for many high school students, as they are often alone and unsupervised.

Violent juvenile crimes occur most frequently in the hours immediately following the end of school on school days, according to federal data.

After-school programs — long an option for working parents of younger children — can be an important tool in preventing at-risk teens from dropping out.

“We have to always keep them active and they have to always be participating in something or else they can go in a different direction,” says Amber May, programs director of Operation Shoestring.

The small nonprofit in central Mississippi works with Lanier High School in Jackson on an after-school program for teens.

[Find out how public-private ties can help prevent high school dropouts.]

“Being on a robotics team is more interesting than being a member of a gang,” she says. “Learning how to start your own business is more interesting than just going home and not necessarily doing what you are supposed to do.”

About 2 million high school students participate in an after-school program, according to a report released last month by the Afterschool Alliance, which advocates for quality, affordable after-school programs.

While the specifics of after-school programs vary greatly across the U.S., many offer homework help, career exploration and other academic enrichment opportunities that may not fit into the traditional school day — think learning Mandarin Chinese or computer coding.

“Generally, when you think of after-school you wouldn’t think of the school football team,” says Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. Though there are programs that offer students opportunities to play sports, she says, and the environment is usually much less competitive.

Students who participate in what are known as expanded learning opportunities — which includes after-school programs — show higher rates of school attendance, lower dropout rates and improved attitudes toward school, according to a 2011 report.

Grant says that after-school programs can be a successful dropout prevention tool because they address three key indicators of students leaving school — attendance, behavior and course completion.

“You have to go to school to participate in after-school,” she says. “There’s just a direct correlation.”

Besides giving students something to look forward to when coming to school, students in after-school have less opportunity to be involved in illegal activities, such as drug use and gang involvement, during the critical hours immediately following school, she says. Grant says teachers reported students in after-school programs improved their behavior in class.

Plus, the additional tutoring and homework help often provided in after-school programs can help students improve their grades, Grant says.

[Read about how high schools and districts are working to boost graduation rates higher. ]

“We had students who have not been motivated before, but because they are in the after-school program their academics improve,” says May, of Operation Shoestring.

May says that typically 100 percent of the students in Lanier’s after-school program, which has about 125 participants, graduate. The school typically graduates about 65 percent of its seniors — significantly below the nationwide graduation rate of about 80 percent.

But after-school programs are just one component of dropout prevention, says Gary Chapman, who oversees program quality and expansion at Communities In Schools, a dropout prevention organization.

“There is no silver bullet to making sure that kids are going to graduate,” says Chapman. After-school programs allow students to build the personal relationships they need, he says, but are just one aspect of dropout prevention.

And while after-school programs have shown proven benefits, demand is not being met. More than 4.6 million high school students not currently enrolled in an after-school program would participate if one were available, according to the Afterschool Alliance’s analysis.

“There is such need for more of these high school programs that are really thoughtful and creative,” says Grant.

Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com.

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After-School Programs Can Help Teens at Risk of Dropping Out originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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