DASN Improving Summer Program Quality

DASN trained nearly 300 new summer program staff with fun and active learning at our Play to Learn Expo on June 4. Participants learned new skills such as classroom management, developing hands-on curriculum to keep students academically engaged during the summer and bringing science and math into the summer program environment.

More than 100 of our Play to Learn attendees were new Central Dallas Ministries AmeriCorps members who were beginning their service the following week in DASN member organizations. These individuals work for a modest stipend and educational award from the federal government, and provide enormous support and value to nonprofit providers across our community.

According to the Harvard Family Research Project's "Promoting Quality Through Professional Development", training and development was identified as one of the single most important ingredients for creating and sustaining program quality. By improving the skills and knowledge of summer and afterschool program staff, DASN is enhancing the experiences, and therefore the outcomes, for the students who attend these much needed programs.

See the learning in action by watching WFAA-TV's coverage of Play to Learn.