Afterschool Programming
Understanding that education and health outcomes are closely interrelated, our model supports the whole student from elementary school through high school and beyond with afterschool enrichment programs and post-secondary educational opportunities in addition to our school-based health centers.
Education Plus Health operates a college preparation, creative writing, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program for nearly 500 middle and high school students at Building 21 High School and People for People Charter School.
Education Plus Health has partnered with Building 21 public school since 2016, a joint venture of the School District of Philadelphia and non-profit organization New Venture Fund. The school uses a unique blended learning model where students create their own self-paced learning pathways and choose from a variety of instructional models.
Education Plus Health has partnered with People for People Charter School since 2015, a K-12 public charter school located in North Central Philadelphia serving students who live in communities throughout Philadelphia. People for People provides a rigorous academic program with an entrepreneurship theme for its students.
- A college preparation, creative writing, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program for at-risk middle and high school students.
- A college preparation program that teaches creative writing and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) to help students build their skills, recover credits as necessary, and apply to colleges.
- Our afterschool program provides academic support, college preparation guidance, and mentoring to low-income, underperforming middle and high schoolers in the Philadelphia region.
- Through partnership with Philadelphia Youth Network and community partners, students in both schools participate in summer employment and career exploration activities.
- Our afterschool program seeks to decrease absenteeism and increase academic outcomes by engaging and supporting high school students most at-risk for poor outcomes.
- The 21st Century Afterschool Program complements and enhances the school’s curriculum, working to decrease absenteeism and increase academic outcomes by engaging at-risk students academically and socially after school, lessons taught by school-day teachers and other creative partners.
- The Education Plus Health 21st Century Afterschool Program works in collaboration with the school-based health center at each school to advance the health and academic well-being of each student.
Benefits of Afterschool Programming
Children and youth who regularly attend high-quality afterschool programs have:
- Better grades
- Better conduct in school
- More academic and enrichment opportunities
- Improved peer relations and emotional adjustment
- Fewer incidences of drug use, violence, and pregnancy
Get Involved
To learn more about this program, email Julie Cousler Emig at Julie@educationplushealth.com or Ferris Smith at ferris.smith@educationplushealth.com.
Afterschool programs also have beneficial outcomes for caretakers:
- 80% of parents said they were less worried about their child’s safety after school
- 57% said their child’s participation helped them manage their own work schedule
- 47% said it let them attend classes or job training more easily
- 45% said it helped them get a better job or do a better job
To support our work
Neild, R.C., Wilson, S.J., & McClanahan, W. Afterschool programs: A review of evidence under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Philadelphia: Research for Action. 2019.
Sloan McCombs, J., Pane, J.F., Augustine, C.H., Schwartz, H.L., Martorell, P. and Zakaras, L. National Summer Learning Study. RAND Corporation. 2014.