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Time Outside of School Plays Key Role in Youth Development

By Robert H. Bruininks, President of the University of Minnesota
Published in Children, Youth & Families Newsletter, Summer 2004

Thousands of Minnesota children are out of school enjoying a summer break. And while many of us look back fondly on summer breaks fi lled with everything from citysponsored summer recreation activities to summer camps to family vacations, many kids today simply do not have those same opportunities. That's cause for concern, as is the broader question of what children are doing when they are not in school. That is why the University of Minnesota has formed the Minnesota Commission on Out-of-School Time to craft a vision and develop strategies to ensure more youth have opportunities to learn and grow during their time outside of school.

What happens to young people outside of school makes a profound difference in their development. On average, young people have nearly 2,000 hours of discretionary time without structure or supervision, according to a report from the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development. In Minnesota, 42 percent, or nearly twice the national average, of children ages 10 to 12 are home alone after school, according to the 1999 National Survey of American Families, sponsored by the Urban Institute.

Research shows a strong connection between involvement in intentional, challenging learning activities and positive youth development. Students who participate in after-school programs have better school attendance, better grades and test scores, and a more positive attitude toward schoolwork. Time spent in dance lessons, sports programs, summer programs, and similar constructive activities also makes a difference.

One of our own University of Minnesota students illustrates the impact of quality out-of-school programming. When Aja Pridgen was in eighth grade, she joined CitySongs, an after-school program that uses music to promote youth and community development. Sponsored by the University's School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Hallie Q. Brown - Martin Luther King Center, CitySongs is a popular music youth choir and much more. Major social service, educational and cultural activities are integrated into the program to promote positive youth development. CitySongs targets young people of color, grades 3 to 8, primarily from lowincome families.

Aja, who is now a sophomore at the U, says that her two years in CitySongs gave her a rich well of experience to draw from. Teamwork and exposure to a diverse group of people played a key role in her development and helped her come out of her shell. And, it helped her get on the ladder to college. As she proudly told those gathered to launch the Minnesota Commission on Outof- School Time, "I was a closet singer before coming to CitySongs. Now I'm a voice major at the U of M!"

The commission will examine programs like CitySongs and find out what works best for youth. The commission's goals include building public awareness of the importance of out-of-school time, enhancing strategic use of public and private resources for out-of-school time programs, forming policies that enhance learning and development for Minnesota youth, enhancing the quality and impact of youth programs and activities, and establishing clear benchmarks for the state when it comes to success in the area of out-of-school time.

The University's Center for 4-H Youth Development is providing administrative support for the commission's work, and funding has been provided by the McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The commission, convened in January 2004, is chaired by WCCO TV anchor Don Shelby and former director of Minneapolis Youth Trust Companies Carol Truesdale and includes 27 other members who are policy makers, academics, and youth development leaders from communities across the state. It will produce a series of reports on its fi ndings, as well as make recommendations to improve out-of-school time for children and youth.

The commission is just one of many critical action steps we're undertaking as part of the President's Interdisciplinary Initiative on Children, Youth, and Families—a three-year effort to focus the University's expertise and public attention on the needs of children, youth, and families.

As a parent, an educational psychologist, and an academic leader, I have seen how young people thrive, and how they grow up to be productive and successful adults when they have opportunities that focus their attention and engage their imagination. I believe that we can make a signifi cant difference in the lives of children and, ultimately, the future success of our state and region, by investing in our children and ensuring that all of us—from citizens to schools to local governments to non-profi t organizations to neighborhood groups—align our resources and our efforts on their behalf. That's what this out-of-school time effort is all about, and I look forward to seeing the commission's recommendations in the months ahead.