Every kid deserves a safe, supportive place to learn and grow beyond school hours. Boston Beyond coordinates and supports a large, citywide network of school and community providers who are making that vision a reality. In particular, Boston Public Schools has been a committed partner in this process of expanding quality after-school experiences to more of Boston’s students. Together, we have significantly expanded after school offerings for Boston’s highest need students, with a relentless focus on quality.
Each year, we offer peer learning opportunities, rigorous evaluation tools, and technical assistance to help our network members elevate their practice and make a lasting impact on student learning.
The after-school hours represent a tremendous opportunity—time for students to build skills and develop socially and emotionally among peers and caring adults. Quality after-school programs reinforce and expand upon the learning children do during the school day, contributing significantly to student success.
Boston Beyond acts as a convener and facilitator for nonprofit providers, educators, researchers, city leaders, and others who share our mission to expand and improve after-school opportunities for Boston students. We work together as a community to share best practices, develop new solutions to outstanding challenges, guide policy, and build our collective professional capacity.
Four themes guide this collaborative after-school agenda:
Through targeted initiatives, our network members work together to address areas of common concern in after-school practice. Currently, Boston Beyond directs three special initiatives:
Explore our strategies to advance student skill development.
Having learning opportunities that take place beyond the walls of the schools is what good community partners bring to the experience of education.