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By DUANE M. ELLING

Lorraine G. Abner, principal at Latona Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, believes that one of the key benefits of the LA’s BEST afterschool program is that it allows school and program staff to “share the skill sets taught during the day and practice them after school — so both sets of staff work to reinforce learning.”

Likewise, the Mott Foundation has long believed that high quality afterschool programs, rather than adding traditional “seat time” to the school day, can advance classroom learning and strengthen students’ overall academic and social skills through project-based and other types of engaging enrichment activities.

In this video slideshow, Abner and other Los Angeles-area principals whose schools host the Mott-funded LA’s BEST program share their perspectives on the importance and value of afterschool. The Foundation’s interest and support for afterschool are also explored in Mott’s 2011 annual report. 

 

Principals see children flourish in afterschool

Watch video on YouTube. Photography by Rick Smith Photography