For 20 years I faced the challenge of how to make schools more successful.  I continue to hear the same answers I use to hear 20 years ago - increase funding, involve parents, higher accountability, etc.  To some extent, they are all correct.  But to make a real difference requires a simple clear understanding of the relationship between teaching, learning, and achievement.

Basically, there are two dimensions to all learning.  The time spent doing the thing being learned and the quality of teaching/learning experience.  In general, the more time we spend doing something the better we get at that thing.  Especially when the time spent includes feedback, variations, increasing levels of challenge, and other elements that increase the quality of the learning time. 

After school programs can offer students increased high quality learning time by making the most of the after school hours.  To do that means to go beyond simply repeating the practices of the regular school day.