On October 20-21, Nicole Yohalem presented four workshops at The Bridge From School to Afterschool and Back Conference, sponsored by School's Out Washington. Nicole's sessions focused on Assessing and Improving Youth Program Quality.

The Forum's OST Policy Commentary series is back! In this issue we discuss the implications of recent research led by Bart Hirsch, Reed Larson and Charles Smith. Each study helps deepen our understanding of youth work practice and can inform policy strategies aimed at developing a strong, stable, committed and prepared OST workforce.

On September 21, the Forum brought together several national experts to address key questions around the connections between the high school reform and after-school movements.

Directs tourist commissions within larger parishes to levy and collect an additional 3% tax upon the occupancy of hotel rooms, motel rooms and overnight camping facilities; two-thirds of the additional tax to be used for youth athletic programs.

This bill creates the “Joint Legislative Committee on Out-of-School Programs" to make a comprehensive analysis of the quantity and quality of Missouri out-of-school programs, and make recommendations for an efficient and effective development plan to provide the opportunity for every Missouri school-age child to access quality out-of-school programs and design a system to train, mentor, an

By Karen Pittman, October 2002

There is a new mantra on Capitol Hill: scientifically-based research. The term is used more than 100 times in the No Child Left Behind legislation. But...

What exactly is scientifically-based research? Is there enough of it available to really guide policy development and implementation?<!--break-->

By Karen Pittman, November 2002

The idea of "high school after-school programming" is an oxymoron if one's image of after-school activities involves 11-year-olds munching snacks, getting help with their homework and finding creative outlets for their energy until their parents arrive at 6 p.m.<!--break-->