This guide provides an overview of PASA’s AfterZone and High School ELO for Credit Programs.
AfterZone
Unlike traditional afterschool programs, the AfterZone programs are more than single programs housed in one building. Rather, each “campus” in the AfterZone is anchored by one or more middle schools, and includes programming at recreation centers, libraries, museums, arts organizations and youth centers. Building on the success of the AfterZone, the Providence After School Alliance and 10 community partners, including the Providence Public School Department, created an afterschool system for high school youth called the Hub. The Hub works with Providence public high schools to provide high school students across the city with high-quality expanded learning opportunities (ELO) that not only garner them credit towards graduation, but provide flexible hands-on learning activities grounded in relevant, real world skills and professional experience.
AfterZone Scholars School Year Program
This one-pager summarizes PASA’s expanded learning pilot at Roger Williams Middle School.
The Hub School Year Program
This web-resource and blog are dedicated to ELO student learning.
Video Series on Expanded Learning in Providence
PASA's expanded learning approach is all about connecting the Providence community with schools and teachers. To accomplish this, PASA uses a collaborative teaching practice that brings together informal educators from some of Providence's most dynamic youth-serving organizations with formal educators from schools. For the past three years, PASA has used its summer learning program—the AfterZone Summer Scholars—to bring these collaborative teaching teams together to engage our city's middle school students in hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences that strengthen STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. These videos show the evolution of that work, as well as its effect on both educators and young people.
