Boost 2017

BRIDGE TO SUCCESS
100 N. ELM ST.
2ND FLOOR

WATERBURY, CT 06702

(203) 754 0040

OST!OB , a community school model

Bridge to Success partnered with Waterbury Public “Full-Service Community Schools provide
Schools (WPS) to select four PK-8 schools to pilot the comprehensive academic, social, and health
Boost! model, which is based on a community schools’ services for students, students’ family members, and
approach. The objective of Boost! is to identify, and community members that will result in improved
ultimately reduce ethnic and racial discrepancies within educational outcomes for children”
schools and reduce gaps in academic outcomes between
Waterbury and the rest of the state. (US Department of Education, 2018).

Quality Scientifically proven benefits of attending an afterschool program
afterschool

programs have

numerous

scientifically

proven

advantages, as

identified in

figure 1, such as

increased

connection to the

school, reduced

absenteeism,

improved

academics, and

reduced deviant behavior. To identify which programs would be suitable and beneficial for students in the four pilot

schools, three steps were taken: 1) asset maps were conducted with the schools to identify current services; 2)

students were surveyed about their current activities and after-school program preferences; and 3) caregivers were

surveyed on their needs and desires for their child(ren)’s after-school program offerings.

In 2016-17, asset maps completed by partner schools showed that, schools Students attending an after-
offered most of their programs to most of their students but did not have the school program
capacity to serve all students if all students would be interested. Most
enrichment programs (e.g. Girls Inc., Chorus, Reading Tutor) took place during 29%
the school hours. Student surveys (n=1,051) revealed that only a third of the 70% 33%
students attends an afterschool program at least once a week. First graders are
most likely to attend an after-school program (36%) and second graders least 30% 37%
likely (26%).
Currently Would like to in

the future

Yes Maybe No

Student surveys (n=1,051) revealed that only a third of the Activities students engage in at home
students attends an afterschool program at least once a week.
First graders are most likely to attend an after-school program
(36%) and second graders least likely (26%). Most students
(83%) go either to their own home after school or visit a friend.

Most students indicate that they are accompanied by a grownup, usually a parent. Most popular activities at home
are eating, watching TV, doing homework, and taking a shower.

When asked, students indicate that they would be interested
in attending an afterschool program; 37% is surely
interested and another 33% might be interested. Most
students (70%) are interested (surely or maybe) in attending
an after-school program. Overall, students are interested in a
range of subjects, the most popular are sports and academics.
Students are also interested in learning to cook and in
behavioral health programs (e.g. team building).

A true community school offers services for students and

their families. Hence, caregivers were asked about their

needs too. Caregivers (n=210) were asked about their home

situation (e.g. number of rooms,

Caregivers identifying basic needs number of household members), daily

challenges, and hopes for afterschool

programming. Three in four caregivers

48% (73%) identifies at least one basic

Paying utility need. Figure 4 illustrates the most
biils
17% 17% 14% 14% 12% commonly identified basic needs.
These struggles are especially

concerning when taking caregivers’

No healthy Access to a Transportation Unsafe Long-term employment status into account: 66%
food to eat laundry of the caregivers works at least 25
machine to work Neighborhood unemployment

hours a week.

Most caregivers (80%) are surely or maybe interested in their children attending an afterschool. As figure 5 shows,

most (86%) caregivers hope it will teach their children new things, 50% see it as a place for child to do homework,

and 39% value after-school care because it provides children with a safe place to be. Asked about evidence-based

benefits of after-school Caregivers hopes for the impact of after-school programs
programs, 63% of

caregivers hope that 86%

by attending an after- 50% 39% 63% 59% 55% 46% 34%
school program their
children will increase

their grades or

establish deeper Child learn child can do Child at a safe Increase School Connection w College Increase
chance HS
connections between new things homework place grades engagement peers attendance graduation

the child and the

school (59%) and/or Caregivers’ preference Scientifically proven outcomes
peers (55%).

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