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Program Spotlight: San Juan USD

The San Juan Unified School District has addressed the academic, social and safety needs of students beyond the instructional day by combining all of the extended learning opportunities available to students within the Extended Learning and Support Programs office. This approach allows the San Juan Unified School District to provide comprehensive services to students that address the needs of the whole child, while maximizing resources and limiting the duplication of services. One of the comprehensive programs available thorough the Extended Learning and Support Programs office is the Bridges After-School Program.

The Bridges After-School Program provides academic assistance and pro-social enrichment in a safe and positive environment. Students realize academic success through academic support, enrichment/disguised learning, pro-social skills/recreation, and parent support and empowerment. In order for a student to be successful in the program, strong relationships between program staff, instructional day staff, parents and students are needed. Relationships are the key!

Bridges After-School Program Goals:: 

• Increase student academic achievement to meet appropriate state standards
• Increase self-esteem and improve life-skills
• Offer positive interaction in a safe and enriching environment
• Involve and support parents/guardians in developing positive family interaction

Bridges After-School Program Components:

• Academic Support.  The academic support component of the program consists of homework help and skill development in reading, English language arts and mathmatics.
• Enrichment/Disguised Learning. Enrichment/disguised learning activities are implemented through learning centers, which may include nutrition, art, mathematics, science, reading, drama and other topics that are aligned with traditional school day instruction.
• Pro-Social Skills/Recreation. The pro-social skills/recreation component consists of structured indoor and outdoor team-building activities.
• Parent Support and Empowerment. A Parent Orientation is provided at the beginning of the program to provide information and facilitate communication between program staff, parents, and students.

The Bridges After-School Program is a service free to students at participating SJUSD middle and elementary school campuses. The Bridges After-School Program operates Monday through Friday approximately  2:30 - 6:00. Program times may vary by campus. Parents are responsible for providing transportation home for their student at the end of each day.

There are 31 Bridges After-School Programs serving approximately 4,000 1st – 12th grade students across the San Juan Unified School District.  Staff in the program work with students in grade-specific teams to continue to support and reinforce core concepts taught during the instructional day.  Program staff have strong relationships with instructional day staff to ensure continuity and true alignment of the activities implemented in the Bridges After-School Program. Full time site coordinators are on site to attend instructional day staff meetings on a regular basis (e.g. staff meetings, safety meetings, IEPs and cycle of inquiry team meetings), as well as to coordinate and implement the program.

The Bridges After-School Program has partnerships with a diverse group of community organizations (e.g. local park and recreation departments, law enforcement and businesses; Sacramento Public Library system; Child Abuse Prevention Council; The City of Citrus Heights). These partnerships allow the program to provide multiple services tailored to fit the needs of specific communities, as well as maintain low student to adult ratios, which allow the successful inclusion of students with special needs as well as English language learners. This collaborative approach is illustrated in the programs diverse funding.  The program utilizes After School Education and Safety, 21st Century Community Learning Center, 21st Century Community Learning Center After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens, Sacramento Achieves-AmeriCorps grant funds, as well as funding through CA State Intervention and The City of Citrus Heights.

The Bridges After-School Program illustrates a well-established after-school model that has demonstrated effectiveness.   According to assessment data, students that regularly participate in the Bridges After-School Program demonstrate a stronger connection to school, higher regular day attendance rates, better quality and completed homework assignments and higher test scores. An average of ninety one (91%) percent of students that regularly participate in the Bridges After-School Program improved their school day attendance or maintained a positive attendance rate of ninety eight (98%) percent or greater. In addition, eighty (80%) percent of the students that participated in last year’s program improved their grades and/or realized a positive increase on the California Standards Test in English Language Arts and/or Mathematics.When parents and families were surveyed one parent said, “I cannot begin to explain how important Bridges is to our family.  This program has allowed our family to spend evenings together playing games and talking.  We no longer fight over homework and school projects.”  The Bridges After-School Program currently has an impact on 4,000 students.  One student said, “Bridges has helped me make friends and it makes school fun.”  Another stated, “When I started coming to Bridges I had bad grades, but now I have good grades!”  

The Bridges After-School Program is an important resource that provides a safe environment while assisting students to improve academic performance.  This extended learning program helps students understand the importance of academics and gives them the tools necessary to be more successful in school.  In addition, enrichment activities not found during the instructional school day, such as life skills education, disguised learning, pro-social enrichment and positive team building are offered to complement and enhance instructional day activities. The Bridges After-School Program provides solid academic support and enrichment so students can maximize their social and academic success.

For more information about the Bridges After-School Program visit the after school website or contact Nicole Craine, Coordinator, Extended Learning and Support Programs ncraine@sanjuan.edu, or Debbie Middleton, Senior Supervisor, Extended Learning and Support Programs  dmiddleton@sanjuan.edu.