Safe and Smart: Making After-School Hours Work for Kids - June 1998

A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Communities Meeting the Need for
After-School Activities


Elk Grove Unified School District,
Twilight Schools
Elk Grove, California
Contact: Elizabeth Pinkerton, 916-686-7712

The Twilight Schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District in South Sacramento County provide after-school programs for the entire family. There are three components to the program: preschool for four-year-olds; homework and tutoring center for K-12 students; and parent workshops and classes. Twilight Schools are located in empty classrooms at four elementary school buildings three days a week from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Schools utilize classrooms after hours to provide homework tutoring centers and to enable use of the libraries and computer rooms. Parents, many of whom are recent immigrants, attend specialized classes, such as English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy, parenting, and job training, also offered through the Twilight program. Program funding and support come from Title I, the Gifted and Talented program, emergency immigrant program funds, and businesses, such as Campbells, a large local employer that donates soup nightly.

Each of the four elementary school buildings utilized in the Twilight program is located in high-poverty neighborhoods, and each school serves its own population of approximately 1,000 children and families from nearby schools. About 700 students and parents attend the program each night, with approximately 150­200 persons at each site. The Elk Grove Unified School District population continues to grow, with at least 2,000 new students enrolling each year. The Twilight program is designed to serve a growing population in which more than 60 different languages are spoken, and it focuses on developing literacy and language skills and ensuring competency in academic subjects, especially reading and mathematics.

Modeled on Head Start program performance standards, the Twilight preschool program, funded by Title I, promotes parent participation in program activities. Parents volunteer in the preschool classrooms, attend tutoring sessions for their children, and participate in workshops to learn about their children's development and how to better prepare their children for academic learning. Additionally, high school students earn credit while serving as mentors and role models for participants in the program. In addition to certified teachers, community and AmeriCorps volunteers teach workshops on various topics, such as nutrition, the job market, reading strategies to use at home, car and bicycle safety, and family math.
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