Researching and Planning
Define who your program will serve. Determine what age group you
will work with and what kind of programming you want to offer. Will you serve
K-5th graders that attend the same school? Or, will your program enroll 7-8th
graders who all share a similar interest?
If you’re a teacher, consider whether your students could benefit from
an extended-day program.
If you’re a parent or community leader, think about a childcare solution
close to home where the kids in your neighborhood can safely spend a few hours.
If you’re a student yourself, consider proposing a program that provides
a unique opportunity for yourself and your peers.
Ask parent, teachers, and kids what they want. Talk to the people
in your community about what they are looking for in an afterschool program.
Hold a community conversation at a school, church, or community center to
discuss your ideas and to get feedback. Send out a request for input online
using email, social media, or a free online survey platform.
Involve the people who will use the program from the beginning so you
can build it to meet their needs.
Set goals for your program. Determine what the ultimate purpose of your
program will be. Are you mainly interested in providing a safe place for kids
to hang out after school? Do you want to help kids do their homework? Are you
interested in providing art or music enrichment? You can do a combination
things, but it’s important to make sure that you can state your goals clearly.
For example, some afterschool programs simply provide an environment
that is safe and comfortable, where kids can play and hang out with adult
supervision while their parents work.
Other programs set educational goals to improve reading skills or math
scores for students who are struggling academically.
Plan the organizational set-up and staff requirements. At minimum you’ll
need a director who will oversee the program as well as someone who will
actually run the programming on a day to day basis. These roles could be filled
by the same person for a small program.
If you’re setting up a program at a school that already has other
afterschool programs in place, model your organization around these.
Ask for volunteers from the community to help you meet your staffing
needs.
Locate a designated space for your program. Check with local schools,
churches, and community centers to see if there is space you can use that is
free or low-cost. Make sure the space you choose includes access to necessities
like bathrooms, food, and water.
It is possible to run a program outdoors, but you will also need to make
sure students have access to restrooms, shade, and adequate protection from
weather extremes (like heat, cold, rain, etc.)
Try to choose a space that is accessible and inclusive for students
regardless of their ability.
Research and obtain proper licensing for your program. Depending on where
you live, afterschool programs may be regulated by national, state, or local
agencies. Learn more about the specific requirements for afterschool in your
area by visiting the websites of a national group, like Afterschool Alliance in
the U.S.
In other countries with more centralized educational programming, check
your government’s website for a section on childcare and education. For
example, in the UK, visit
Reach out to the contacts listed for your state or local agencies by
email and phone to discuss the specific requirements for your program.
