Jim WilliamsonNAZA Senior Director

jwilliamson@pencilfd.orgwww.NashvilleZ.org

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What is NAZA

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Understanding the Need

Coordinated afterschool recommended by a mayor-appointed task force in 2008.

Why middle school: Youth crime and victimization increases during

afterschool hours. Only 10% of our 15,000 FARL middle-school

students in structuring afterschool programming. Early warning metrics of high school dropout fall

steadily during middle school in Nashville.

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Laying the Foundation

• Planning year: Developed system

framework and Leadership Council

Convened community to develop quality standards

Partnered with School District to share data

Survey the National Landscape

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National Look

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Key elements of afterschool systems

BEFORE…• Waste of public/

private resources• Uneven program

quality• Fewer children

participate• Public skepticism• Children lose

AFTER…• Smarter use of

resources with data• Program quality

improves• More children

participate• Public support• Children gain

1. LEADERSHIP: A coordinating group sets

priorities, involves afterschool programs, and collects data.

Four Keys to Ongoing Coordination

2. DATA: A complete afterschool picture – service

gaps, children’s participation, program quality – emerges.

3. QUALITY: Coordinators set standards, then use

assessment and training to lift program quality.

4. PARTICIPATION: With carrots and sticks,

coordinators nudge programs to meet attendance goals.

Strong Leadership

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A bully-pulpit to build public interest and commitment.

The “savvy” and clout to bring key stakeholders across the sectors to the table.

Attention at the state and national level.

A Commitment to Quality

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Financial commitment to both programs and coordination 90 Professional

Development Workshops

96 Agencies8000 training hours

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What’s the Data Saying

AIR Report April 2014• Guiding questions

Dosage Program Quality Relationship between

participating in higher programs and education-related outcomes

• Findings: Correlative vs. Causal Fewer Discipline issues during the

school day Higher attendance rates Higher Math & Science scores

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