Thank you for the responses. It sounds like you have great programs. You didn't run into a problem with the insurance? We have parents that would love to teach a class, but they don't have 1 million dollar in insurance. They are fingerprinted and TB tested as well.Maybe this is just in California. I know other schools in my state do these programs, but trying to get info out of them is hard.
Thanks

We are beginning our second year of after school enrichment programming.... we call it Club Day. This year we are offering a fall, winter, and spring session so that students can try different things.

Last year, we used a donation to pay for transportation; this year, we're starting without bussing... but I'm working hard to change that!!!

Classes are taught by parent and staff volunteers. Parents must be fingerprinted before beginning... the money for this comes from the school. Our PTO pays for snacks and provides small (VERY small) budgets for clubs that need supplies.

Our current offerings for fall are: Chess (my hubby and a high school volunteer), the Carnival Crew (This is mine... we are starting our carnival decor already! The kids love being involved this way!), knitting (an instructional aid), sewing (a new parent to our school... they're going to make a jungle- themed quilt to auction at our carnival and some other personal projects!), Science Club (an instructional aid... they're going to focus on Lego mechanics!), Mad Muse (our student magazine... lead by a teacher.), and Card Making (lead by our treasurer who is also a Creative Memories consultant). For winter and spring, we will also offer jogging, crochet, scrapbooking, painting, GIRL POWER!, and more!

I feel very strongly about after school enrichment programming... we are a very poor school and our kids need the exposure to these things! And, if we can do it, anyone can! Start small and good luck!!!
Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

We have ESS (extended school services). Which I think should be mandatory and paid for by the state. We won't even go there. Our ESS is primarily designed to help out kids that need an extra boast with their grades. There is sometimes enrichment programs. My son is in one now for writing. This will help him do better on the writing assesment on our state testing. I worked Recreation for ESS for two years, but that was only for ESS kids (they have to be teacher refered). There have been many changes to the program this year that I am not familiar with. I was hoping to teach an ESS class now that I have enough hours to sub teach but was told by one of the cooridinators that I had to have a degree. When I worked ESS less than two years ago you only needed the minimum college hours it took to sub. That is a district decision.

We also have other agencies to come in and offer enrichment classes. Our County Extension office offers 4-H programs once a month. Right now they deal mostly with nutrition and crafts. They are trying to expand. Also in the past our community ed has had programs such as Karate, gymnastics, and a few other things. These agencies provide their own people and work in conjuction with the ESS program.

I am itching to have our PTO sponsor afterschool enrichment programs. I am trying to get the nerve up to talk to our principal and ESS director to see if we can make it happen. I know there is alot of red tape there.

Does your school have afterschool programs? For example a chess class, dance class, science class etc? If you do do teachers teach the class, or parents, or does a company with their own instructors teach it?

Our school is having a hard time getting programs together at our school. We are a PTA, and parents can not teach the class unless they have a 1 million inusrance policy in file with the district. Certain classes can't be taught, like martial arts, etc. This is because of the insurance. Is this just a PTA thing? I really want to provide classes afterschool, but I keep running into a roadblock. Any ideas?