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


LA's BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow)
Los Angeles, California
Contact: Carla Sanger, 213-847-3681

By employing teachers and other staff, LA's BEST (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow) provides 5,000 students in 24 schools across the city with academic tutoring and instruction, a safe haven for enrichment and recreation, and an opportunity to develop self-discipline, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills. Through a partnership of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles, the state department of education, and private sector companies, the program runs until 6 p.m. after school, Monday to Friday, serving children in neighborhoods vulnerable to gangs, crime, and drugs.

The program includes homework assistance and learning activities, clubs ranging from computers to cooking, organized sports, field trips, and the arts. Diverse and creative enrichment activities involve children in dance, music, science, and art. A significant number of parents and volunteers participate in LA's BEST programs on-site and in regional and citywide activities.

Independent evaluations have shown that children who participate in LA's BEST get better grades, have greater enthusiasm for regular school and show positive changes in behavior. Schools running an LA's BEST program have shown a 40-60 percent reduction in reports of school-based crime.
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