After-School Education and Safety Program

Since its establishment in 1998, the San Diego After-School Regional Consortium has achieved terrific success as an after-school collaboration in California. Coordinated by The Children's Initiative and under the direction of the Consortium, the After-School Education and Safety Program has received a significant share of the State's after-school funding, opened more sites than any other state grantee, and is now serving more than 41,000 children daily.

History:

• In 1998, The Children's Initiative convened the San Diego After-School Regional Consortium as a groundbreaking collaborative of stakeholders.
• The Children's Initiative worked in partnership with legislative leaders to draft Assembly Bill 2284, which provided $50 million for after school programs. The goals of the legislation are an increase in school attendance, stronger academic performance, improved behavior, and enhanced neighborhood safety.
• In 1999, The San Diego After-School Regional Consortium was awarded the largest grant in the state - $5.6 million annually - and opened more than 100 programs.
• In 2000, State expansion funds totaling $9.2 million allowed the San Diego After-School Regional Consortium to open 199 more program sites, adding to the 103 sites funded by the City of San Diego (the "6 to 6" programs) and the 51 sites funded by the County of San Diego ("Critical Hours"). A total of 353 sites (some having dual funding streams) were in operation.
• 2002, Before/After-School Learning and Safe Neighborhoods Partnership Programs changes name to After-School Education and Safety Program due to new California State Legislation Proposition 49 passing.
• 2004-2005, ASES sites earned $500,000 more than the previous year significantly increasing the number of youth served.
• 2006-2007, the Consortium successfully secured more than $57 million for Before & After-School programs bringing the total amount of secured dollars to more than $243 million to-date.
• 2007-2008 , the Consortium more than $58 million in annual state funding.

Communities Served:

• 27 school districts receive State funding include: Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Cajon Valley, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Julian, Lakeside, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, Mountain Empire, National City, Oceanside, Poway, Ramona, San Diego Unified, San Marcos, Santee, San Ysidro, South Bay, Sweetwater, Vallecitos, Valley Center-Pauma, Vista, and Warner Springs.
• The State gives priority to communities with the greatest need, thus all elementary sites served by State funding are Title I schools (50% or more of enrolled students are eligible to receive free or reduced-cost lunches).
• San Diego County serves a higher percentage of eligible schools than any other in the state.

Program Goals:

• Provide youth with a safe and nurturing environment until 6:00 p.m.
• Provide outcome-driven academic support.
• Create enrichment and recreation programs that foster student resiliency and improve neighborhood safety.

Accomplishments:

• Created a Regional Training Plan, engaging over 1,000 participants in monthly program updates and quarterly training workshops.
• Played a leadership role in California's after school movement, serving on the Statewide Governance Committee and chairing both Staff Development and Promising Practices task teams.
• Hosted CALSAC's (California School Age Consortium) first annual Middle School After-School Conference and numerous legislative and model-program site visits.
• Built collaboration and consensus between school districts, community groups and policy leaders.

Next Steps:

• To encourage and assist in the development of strategies for program sustainability.
• To provide leadership in leveraging additional funding, improving current programs, and expanding to additional sites.