Behind the Scenes with Dawn Hosni: Tiffany Law's Interview with AlphaBEST's Chief Development Officer

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At AlphaBEST, education is approached differently. Research-based curricula are designed to complement each child's school day while encouraging curiosity and exploration. With highly trained educators and a strong partnership with parents and schools, AlphaBEST creates enriching, trust-filled environments that support growth and connection for every learner.

Q: Are your after-school programs simply childcare?

A: They don’t have to be! A quality after-school program is designed to develop students' academic, social, emotional, and physical needs through hands-on, engaging activities. AlphaBEST Education provides exactly that! With skilled leaders overseeing each session, we begin with homework help and then transition into an experiential curriculum where students explore the world through STEM, the arts, world languages and cultures, fitness, maker stations, and more.

Q: Are there quality standards for after-school programs, and is AlphaBEST aligned with them? 

1. Absolutely! AlphaBEST aligns with these standards and commissioned a white paper to research what factors distinguish successful outcomes in high-quality out-of-school time learning. Emerging research on after-school programs shows that high-quality programs share common characteristics such as hands-on enrichment, time and support for homework, a focus on social-emotional learning, physical and psychological safety, appropriate supervision by well-trained staff, student choice, and strong partnerships between schools, families, and the programs themselves (Durlak et al., 2010; Little et al., 2008; Miller, 2003; Shernoff & Vandell, 2007).

From this research, the Nine Characteristics of Quality After-School Programs were developed. AlphaBEST programs are built on the foundation of these characteristics:

1. A Clear Mission
2. Appropriate Supervision, Structure, and Well-Prepared Staff
3. Safe, Positive, and Healthy Environment
4. A Holistic Approach Beyond Academic Improvement
5. Intentional Programming with Opportunities for Choice and Autonomy
6. Engaging Enrichment Activities
7. Strong Partnerships with Schools, After-School Programs, and Families
8. Appropriate Content and Pedagogy
9. Engagement with Peers and Adults

After-school programs like AlphaBEST help children develop essential life skills by creating a safe and welcoming environment where learning is fun.

Q: What makes AlphaBEST different from other national after-school programs? 

A: Two key factors set AlphaBEST apart:

1. Our Enrichment Content: AlphaBEST stands out with its cutting-edge, research-based curriculum. We partner with national content experts like Art in Action, Bloxels, Sphero, FableVision Learning, MakerEd, The World Cricket Association, The Global Language Project, Little Global Citizens, and more. This allows our students to experience daily enrichment activities rooted in the 4 Cs of 21st-century learning—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication.
2. Our Commitment to Inclusion: We believe that every student deserves a high-quality after-school experience. We partner with Kids Included Together (KIT), the leader in disability inclusion and behavior support practices for child and youth development organizations. Through this partnership, AlphaBEST, powered by KIT, ensures that our programs provide an inclusive environment where all children, regardless of ability, are fully included.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kaplan Early Learning Company, AlphaBEST has been innovating after-school and summer programs for PK-8th grade students for over twenty years. We work in true partnership with the school districts we serve, ensuring our programs align with each community's needs and goals.

Q: How has your partnership with IEI been beneficial?

A: IEI has provided valuable opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with district leaders, helping us better understand how to continue innovating our programs and supporting schools more creatively. We look forward to being part of the IEI community for many years to come.