California Department of Education
Taking Center Stage – Act II

Intervention courses and after-school programs

Struggling students receive additional support to prepare for high school through accelerated intervention classes, tutoring, and after-school programs. To be effective, these programs offer standards-based, grade-level supports taught by skilled professionals. This support presents another articulation challenge: how to ensure that teachers coordinate assignments, standards, and lessons with the paraprofessionals or other staff members who run the after-school programs or intervention classes.

For example, teachers can articulate assignments with after-school staff in the following ways:

  • Daily e-mail correspondence can list student assignments and attach work sheets, handouts, and even PowerPoint lessons.
  • Flexible scheduling can ensure that after-school and intervention teachers are included in team planning and progress-monitoring analysis sessions on a regular basis.
  • Teacher Web pages can provide links to daily assignments, work sheets, and PowerPoint lessons so that after-school and intervention teachers have instant access to materials from all teachers in the school.

In the Spotlight

Alvarado Intermediate School, Rowland Unified School District, a 2004 Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage Model School
Alvarado offers after-school support programs to ensure that all students meet state standards. These programs include after-school tutoring, the English Learners Club, the Phonics Club (teaches literacy to the lowest-performing students), and academies (mini-courses that target specific learning gaps found by a careful analysis of the school's standardized tests scores). Alvarado’s intent is to provide all students with the support and interventions they need to make successful transitions into and out of middle school.


Alvarado DataQuest School Profile
Alvarado Intermediate School (Outside Source)
Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage—Visitor's Guide: Alvarado Intermediate School (PDF; Outside Source)
Schools to Watch-Taking Center Stage

Both Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), provide models for helping low-income and minority students prepare for success. Through support classes and after-school activities, educators and student tutors from local colleges inspire students to attend college, learn important study skills, and set goals. The programs also provide students with the motivation and support needed to reach their goals.

Related Links

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