Please take a moment to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have have questions, feel free to call us at (614) 247-4976, or email us!
- Who is After School Counts?
- How many years has the conference taken place and how manyparticipants attended last year?
- Who is your target audience?
- What is the overall objective of the conference?
- What kinds of issues are addressed via the variety of workshop offerings?
- What is the learning style that will be presented by workshop facilitators?
Who is After School Counts?
After School Counts! is a program of the Educational Council that serves all Franklin County Ohio public school districts (and beyond). The Educational Council works with educational systems to personalize learning success for all children. After School Counts! does this through strengthening before and after school, out of school time and summer programs.
How many years has the conference taken place and how manyparticipants attended last year?
The 2009 “Off to a Great Start!” is the seventh annual conference for Central Ohio’s after school program and out of school time staff and last year’s conference drew over 320 participants.
Who is your target audience?
The primary audience is front line staff of urban, suburban and rural after school programs serving students in public and charter schools, including those that are in school improvement or emergency status, and have a growing number of immigrant and refugee children.
A wide-variety of after school and educational organizations will be represented—including school-based programs, faith-based, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, supplemental services providers, YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, recreation centers, and many others.
What is the overall objective of the conference?
To provide a forum for development of a peer professional network, reinforce professionalism of after school field, venue for sharing best practices, strengthen professional knowledge and provide skills for increasing quality of after school programs. Most importantly, we want after school professionals to know that their work is important and makes a difference in the lives of children and their families.
What kinds of issues are addressed via the variety of workshop offerings?
Children attend before-and after-school programs for up to 5 hours a day- a tremendous opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Many after-school programs are held accountable for student outcomes by funders and other partnering organizations.
Accountability is an extremely complex issue due to the many factors outside the realm of after-school programs that contribute to student grades, proficiency test scores, school attendance and delinquency rates as well as the fact that after school staff are rarely trained educators.
What is the learning style that will be presented by workshop facilitators?
As in the past participants will benefit from trainings that are interactive, provide research that is illustrated with real-life examples, handouts are provided, and hands-on materials are incorporated. Additionally, we have challenged each presenter to be prepared to present with tremendous energy and enthusiasm.