City Year serves as a bridge from school to home through its after-school program, Starfish Corps. During the program, corps members reinforce learning with homework help and provide educational enrichment, leadership development, and service opportunities for students, all in a safe, fun atmosphere. City Year provides the only in-house after school program at Parker-Varney Elementary. By extending the learning day by 180 hours, students find the support they need for academic and life success.
Children who are unsupervised after school are at risk of falling behind academically, socially and emotionally. They are also at higher risk than other children of substance abuse, gang involvement, teen pregnancy and dropping out of school. Through City Year's after-school program, City Year corps members are able to extend the learning day and provide a safe, structured environment to go to.
City Year corps members provide after-school interventions that complement the school's instruction while providing a safe place for students to go during after-school hours. Homework support is provided for students as well as enrichment activities focusing on four units: Peace, Needs vs. Wants, the Environment, and Healthy Choices, which will involve hands-on activities to build students' critical thinking and problem solving skills - skills needed to succeed in middle school and beyond.
Students who progress to 10th grade with their peers are four times more likely to graduate than students who fall behind. Our Long-Term Impact goal is to ensure 80% of the students in the schools City Year serves reach 10th grade on track and on time, serving the majority of at-risk students in the locations where City Year serves. By extending the learning day by 180 hours (30 school days) for the students who need it most, City Year will maximize impact on their academic and life success.
