United Way helps children and youth achieve their potential with the understanding that education is the foundation for a good life, setting the individual on a path of personal fulfillment, economic security and societal contribution. We can measure success at different points in student’s lives - by readiness to enter kindergarten, reading proficiency at various grade levels, and on-time graduation from high school.
Research has shown that after school enrichment is one of the most important factors affecting students' school performance, affording youth access to mentors, allowing them to learn new skills, and to engage in activities that build confidence. Key stakeholder organizations were brought together by United Way of Racine County to initiate a study around availability of and participation in Out of School Time (OOST) opportunities for school-age children and youth in the Racine area. “Out-of-school time” is defined as all the hours before school, after school, teacher workdays, school holidays, weekends and summer.
OUR VISION
Every child will have opportunities to participate in safe, high quality after school, weekend and summer programming that is conveniently located and/or easily accessible with age-appropriate content that meets the needs and interests of local school-age youth.
OUR STRATEGY
By engaging 500 more students in grades 6-8 (those who had not previously participated in OOST activities) in programming three or more hours per week,
we will see a myriad of positive results over the next two years.
METRICS OF SUCCESS
- improved school performance (math and reading scores)
- decreases in risky behaviors (Search Institute survey)
- an eight percent increase in the Racine Unified School District high school graduation rate by 2012.
United Way and the Out of School Time Study Steering Committee have developed a Web site for school age children and parents to find various out of school time activities offered in our community. Please check out the Racine Aftershool Web site to find fun things for children to do when school is not in session.
