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Inner-City Games Chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige today concluded the After-School Summit that focused on identifying student performance indicators, effective program elements and evaluation measures for after-school programs.

"This summit is just the first step in what will be an ongoing process at the department to identify and support high-quality after-school programs that will make a real difference in the lives of America's young people," Paige said. "While good after-school programs exist, we know that many others are not achieving their full potential. We want to find out how we can help strengthen after-school programs."

For the first time in the history of the Department of Education, after-school providers, parents, students, educators, researchers, law enforcement officials and administration officials gathered to discuss how after-school programs can better serve millions of young people whose parents are at work or unable to provide supervision and support after the school day ends. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation sponsored the summit, which was held at department headquarters in Washington.

Paige and Schwarzenegger said that, rather than being home alone or on the streets, children should be involved in positive academic and recreational activities with caring adults and positive role models whose goal is to help them achieve their greatest potential.

"One of the important parts of our efforts to educate every child is to make sure there are high-quality after-school programs that nurture our investment in our children and their future," Secretary Paige said. "We need after-school programs that are strong academically and encourage fitness and healthy habits.

"Today, I'm pleased to be here with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation, to further our commitment to improve the quality of after-school programs, and expand the partnership with the Mott Foundation to include linking supplemental educational services required under the No Child Left Behind Act with after-school programs.

"I have seen firsthand how much Arnold cares about helping children focus on the things that will enable them to make the most of their bright potential, and I thank him for his commitment to our nation's young people."

Schwarzenegger, who co-hosted the After-School Summit, said: "This summit was a huge success and a major step toward my vision and goal that, by 2010, every child who needs it has access to an effective and comprehensive after-school program."

In addition, other goals and follow-up activities have been established. The U.S. Department of Education, the Mott Foundation and Schwarzenegger will work together on the following:

• The U.S. Department of Education's 21st Century After-School Summer Institute, to be held later this month to share the findings of the After-School Summit with nearly 1,400 participants;

• A back-to-school event celebrating after-school programs this fall;

• A meeting of all state education agencies in the fall as a follow-up to the After-School Summit;

• After-school summits to be held by 12 governors in partnership with the National Governors Association; and

• Working with mayors in partnership with the National League of Cities to link the school day and after-school programs.

The Department of Education and the C.S. Mott Foundation will expand their partnership to increase public awareness about the importance of after-school programs and what makes such programs effective, and to conduct pilot programs in several school districts to link and implement supplemental education services and after-school programs.

Schwarzenegger is founder of Inner-City Games, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for inner-city youth to participate in sports, educational, cultural and community enrichment programs; to build confidence and self-esteem; and to encourage youth to say "no" to gangs, drugs and violence and "yes" to hope, learning and life. Inner-City Games has after-school programs in 15 cities across the nation.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation -- established in 1926 in Flint, Mich., by an automotive pioneer -- is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the United States and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally. Grant making is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area and Pathways Out of Poverty. The Foundation, with estimated year-end assets of $2 billion, made 606 grants totaling $110 million in 2002.

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