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October 21 Lights On After School Day Celebrates Positive Academic Impact of After-School Programs on Denver Public School Students

DENVER, October 19, 2010 – Students enrolled in after-school programs in Denver Public Schools show higher performance on CSAP tests across-the-board, according to recently released data.

"There is no question that quality after-school programs play a critical role in Denver Public Schools,” says Superintendent Tom Boasberg. “Our students who participate in after-school programs have better attendance, higher performance, and lower dropout rates than those who do not.”

A recent study of more than 2,000 DPS students reveals that students participating in the Lights On After School programs in Denver consistently out-performed non-participants on the CSAP tests. Students enrolled in after-school programs 30 or more days of the year showed a smaller proportion of unsatisfactory results and a higher proportion of proficient and partially proficient results than a similar control group who did not participate in after-school activities.

October 21 is National Lights On After School Day, a day recognizing the impact of after-school programs both locally and nationally. Across the country, more than 7,500 activities will take place to celebrate the positive effects that after-school programs have on our nation’s students.

The Denver Lights On After School (LOAS) partnership (among the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Foundation, Mile High United Way, and the City and County of Denver) provides funding to ensure that quality, school-based after-school programs are sustained, and that our students are engaged, safe and enriching their learning experience in the critical 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. hours. These programs provide a tremendous service for DPS students, families, and communities throughout Denver.

On any given day, nearly 300 activities are taking place in after-school programs across Denver. Thanks to funding from the Lights On After School partners and other engaged community organizations, thousands of students have access to these activities free of charge. Rather than sitting at home, our students are engaged in hip-hop dance class, athletics, computer labs, nutritional education classes, homework help and much more.

Learn more about after-school programs in Denver and support the Lights On After School initiative at www.dpsfoundation.org.

Several local program providers will host open houses on Thursday, October 21 for media and other stakeholders that wish to learn more about after-school programs in Denver.

• Mi Casa Resource Center will host a resource fair and family night at 5:30 p.m. at the Mi Casa Neighborhood Center in Lake Middle School, 1820 Lowell Blvd.
• The Beacons Center at Cole Arts and Science Academy will present a fall concert and awards ceremony at 5:45 p.m. at 3240 Humboldt St.

• All metro Denver Boys & Girls Clubs will celebrate the importance of afterschool programming with open houses. To find the Club nearest you, visit www.positiveplacedenver.org

About the Lights On After School Initiative
The LOAS partnership was formed in 2003 to support and expand quality school-based after-school programs. The partnership’s vision is to provide strength-based after-school programs at every DPS elementary and middle school. LOAS seeks to make efficient use of resources, promote high quality, and offer training to after-school staff. Funding is allocated through a competitive grant process open to all DPS elementary and middle schools. Since its inception, the initiative has raised more than $6 million in funding for DPS after-school programs.

About the Denver Public Schools Foundation
The DPS Foundation raises and manages funds in support of various programs that drive student achievement including resources for teachers and classrooms, after-school tutoring and enrichment programs, and leadership development and mentoring. Through strategic program investments and community leadership, we support Denver Public Schools in creating a district where outstanding educational achievements are the norm and all children have hope of a great future. For more information or to support the Denver Public Schools Foundation, visit www.dpsfoundation.org.

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Contact:

Denver Public Schools Foundation

Sarah Dixon

Director of Marketing & Communications

sdixon@dpsfoundation.org

720-423-3877