Partnership seeks to enhance effectiveness of academic supports for Southern Nevada students in before- and after-school programs
06/04/2024
The National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE) will partner with several local community organizations to assess the impact of before- and after-school activities–like tutoring and homework assistance–on students.
The Institute, a semi-autonomous research unit housed inside UNLV’s College of Education, will partner with the City of Henderson’s Safekey programs and Communities In Schools (CIS) of Southern Nevada to determine what the needs are in those programs and what kinds of high-impact training tutors and program facilitators may need.
NIAE Executive Director Maria Marinch said the long-term partnership would yield research to provide targeted training that will give Safekey personnel a foundation for possible careers in education, in addition to strengthening academic supports provided by Communities In Schools.
“We are happy to partner with the City of Henderson and Communities In Schools in this endeavor that centers on supporting professionals to create environments where young people can learn, grow, and be successful,” Dr. Marinch said.
Dr. Benita Brooks, UNLV College of Education faculty and NIAE fellow leading the research, said that the creativity that resides within students often is discovered outside of the typical brick-and-mortar school buildings, inside the before- and after-school programs like Safekey and Communities in Schools.
“That’s why before- and after-school programs are imperative,” Brooks said. “In those spaces they can really discover what their likes are, who they are…it’s through those interactions with college students and other people in the community that gives them the opportunity to see what and who they can become.”
The three-year partnership will deploy in phases and include a self-assessment study that will help Safekey employees and CIS staff recognize what they are doing well, and identify areas that need improvement.
Safekey and CIS team members will be surveyed in areas like quality of interactions with students, time spent on activities, relationship building, and monitoring of student knowledge and skills. After the study, recommendations for professional development will be developed and implemented.
“Quality education is one of our City’s strategic priorities, and we are proud to partner with NIAE to offer our Safekey students additional resources to ensure their academic success,” said Corey Clark, City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Superintendent.
Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada Executive Director Debbie Palacios said the research from the study would help CIS to better understand the needs of our students and the interventions that work.
“CIS staff and our partners are prepared to use the findings from the study to increase the impact for thousands of students, not just during the study but for years to come,” she said.
The content of this article is produced in collaboration with the faculty, research, practitioner and community partners featured herein, and the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE), an interdisciplinary institute housed at the University Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) College of Education that engages in interdisciplinary research-practice-policy efforts that transform PK-20 education through innovation, excellence, evidence, and equity.
For more information about NIAE, visit niae.sites.unlv.edu.
