Afterschool Professional Development for Teachers

About this grant

Professional development for afterschool staff is critical to improving youth outcomes. According to recent research, five out of eight leading afterschool experts identified "staff recruitment, training and development" as the most important factors in creating and sustaining quality improvement in afterschool programs.Multiyear funding will enable the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Educational Foundation to conduct a nationwide survey of teachers and paraprofessional members regarding afterschool and its connections to the school day; develop and administer professional programs for afterschool staff; identify up to four pilot sites and provide technical assistance to better align afterschool programs with the regular school day curriculum; and create a Web site to replicate technical assistance efforts for local members. This work will not only be helpful to teachers and paraprofessionals who deliver afterschool services, but also will help inform the practice of professionals during the school day.The AFT Educational Foundation – the nonprofit arm of AFT – conducts, sponsors and disseminates research in education and related fields to improve and restructure the education system.