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The role of homework needs to be considered within the context of the broader developmental needs of children. This article focuses on how children spend their time after school and how homework, as well as other activities, can contribute to school success. Children differ in their after-school experiences, from "latchkey" children who lack supervision and structure, to the overextended child engaged in multiple extracurricular activities with little time for unstructured play. The authors summarize research on the impact of after-school activities-including homework programs-on school performance and make recommendations with regard to best practices for children who differ in their resources, abilities, and interests. Balancing homework with other aspects of the child's home life to promote positive developmental outcomes is recommended.
NATIONAL CONCERNS HAVE BEEN raised about the number of children who do not have supervised activities after school. The U.S. Department of Justice (1999) reported that the peak time for juvenile crime is between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. on school days, the period after school until parents typically return from work. The results of the Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report suggest that after-school programs have greater potential for reducing juvenile crime than imposition of a juvenile curfew.
Structured after-school activities have also been associated with higher educational outcomes. Jordan and Nettles (2000), in their analysis of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988, found that student participation in structured activities, religious activities, and time with adults during 10th grade had a significant positive impact on educational outcomes for those same students in 12th grade. Conversely, students who spent more unstructured time (e.g., hanging out with peers) were at greater risk of negative educational outcomes. The authors provide a model reflecting that in addition to student characteristics and factors inherent in the school context, the investments students make during their off hours in themselves and in their community affects their investment in schooling and, consequently, their performance in school. It is important to note that the extracurricular activities examined in the study were broad-based, and did not specifically include homework assistance programs.
Clearly, how children and adolescents spend their time after school is a critical determinant of both school and societal outcomes. The impact of after-school homework assistance programs will be...