Extracurricular activities

Program basics

Extracurricular activities include any organized social, art, or physical activities for school-aged youth that occur during out-of-school time. Activities can take place before or
after school or during the summer.
Activities vary widely. They and may include academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, homework help, arts (music, theater, and drama), technology, science, reading, math, civic engagement and involvement, and activities to support and promote healthy social/emotional development.
Most after-school programs operate for approximately two to three hours per day, four to five days per week.
Programs can occur in a variety of settings, including schools, museums, libraries, park districts, faith-based organizations, youth service agencies, county health agencies, and community-based organizations

All school-aged children

$7-12 hourly per participant

Not available

Note: This content is under review
Factors that drive positive outcomes in extracurricular settings include student access to and sustained participation in the program, the quality of programming and staffing, and strong relationships between programs, schools, families, and other community institutions.
Recruitment and retention outcomes are improved via tailoring programs to youth interests, family engagement with regard to participant attendance, and cultivating participant sense of belonging.
Programs that require staff to have more advanced academic credentials and focus on academics or the arts tend to produce better outcomes.
Parent liaisons on staff can improve relationships between programs and families.