Urban League After School Homework and Tutorial Program

Many parents work full-time jobs, leaving young children at home unsupervised and potentially in harm’s way. Recognizing childcare is an important need, the Urban League operates an after school program at its 504 Central Avenue facility. Monday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm thirty middle school students are tutored, participate in a variety of activities, and enjoy a nutritious snack in a safe and secure environment. For more information about this and other programs please call: (973) 624-9535

After School Program

With changing family structure and needs, there are more single parent families and now grandparents and or other relatives are custodians for children whose parents are unable to care for them.

Increasing numbers of families are seeking new ways to care for their children in a safe environment, with sufficient numbers of well-trained staff, where structured indoor and outdoor activities are offered, and where parental involvement is welcomed.

The After School Homework and Tutoring Program is an adult-supervised program which serve students who need after school support and adult supervision. Children of qualified families will be served on a "first come first served" basis. The program operates from 3 pm - 6:00 pm daily, Monday through Friday, when school is in session.

Tutoring Program

The vision of the Academic Foundations Tutoring Program is centered in the basic premise that all children can learn when they are nurtured and taught by knowledgeable and caring adults who believe in them and are committed to their growth. By organizing and empowering parents and recruiting and training an outstanding group of positive adult role models, the Urban League works to ensure the healthy intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development of children living in economically disadvantaged areas.

We believe in the innate genius of all children and in the tremendous potential within the community; and we devote organizational resources to nurture the minds of Black and Latino children.

As one of its many services addressing the needs of Essex County families, the Urban League developed the Academic Foundations Tutoring Program. Initially the tutoring took place at the Urban League’s facilities in Newark. This past year we collaborated with the Newark Housing Authority to provide tutoring to youth living in public housing, at six Housing Authority sites in Newark.

Our Goals

The goals for the Youth Tutoring Program are to improve academic skills, increase self-esteem, positively impact attitudes about learning and school, decrease interest in gangs and drugs, improve school attendance, and provide personal encouragement and role models.

Our effectiveness is evaluated by students, their parents, staff, teachers, and volunteers at the end of each academic year. Students and parents are surveyed regarding improvements in grades, school attendance, attitudes toward school and learning and study skills. Teachers are surveyed regarding the program’s impact on their students' academic performance. Volunteers are surveyed regarding program and staff effectiveness as well. These results are examined and utilized to design program improvements for the next academic year.

Youth living in the public housing communities face many barriers to academic success. Their parents often work long hours to support their families and do not have the time or energy to help with homework. Many parents haven’t achieved the academic proficiency to be able to help and encourage their children with schoolwork. Commonly, they cannot afford academic tools that are taken for granted in middle income households, such as computers, Internet access and software. Many of their families are new to this country and do not speak English at home. Some families are also grappling with substance abuse and domestic violence. The children live in communities that are often riddled with violence, drug use, and gang activities. All of them are low-income and struggle economically simply to survive. Behavior problems, poor health and nutrition, lack of self-confidence, and little and no after-school supervision are just a few of the factors impacting these students’ ability to function successfully. As a result, many of these youth are seriously behind in school and are lacking in essential academic skills. Further compounding the situation, a significant number dislike school and are often absent.

During the one-hour tutoring session, students and tutors work together on math and language arts skill-building and reading. Our skill-building curriculum is based on the Newark Public School standards and is designed to help students get up to grade level in math and language arts.

In addition to school based youth programs, ULEC also provides mentoring, after school, tutoring services for over 50 young people, ages 14-18 at our facility in Newark through our nationally recognized program for adolescents, NULITES (National Urban League Incentives to Excel and Succeed).

Services

This program provides opportunities for school-age children (ages to 12) to: 

• Discover new interests
• Develop new skills through a wide variety of planned and supervised activities.

Or program also works directly with families and teachers. In addition to presenting new challenges for children both as individuals and as members of a cooperative group, it also provides opportunities for recreation, school-readiness and social growth. 

To sign up for this program, please call the Urban League at (973) 624-9535.