Why our programs are so essential: background Information

Southern California is one of America’s most affluent communities, yet 40% of the region’s students come from families with incomes below the federal poverty level, with a similar percentage classified as English Learners (EL).  Research shows a significant correlation between poverty, EL status, and low student performance. 

Many of these students come from families where both parents are working multiple jobs.  Their need to be at work creates a population of latchkey kids, coming home to an empty house during the hours of the greatest juvenile crime.  According to the US Census, one third of all kids are latchkey kids for at least some part of the week.  This time period at home alone is a prime environment for kids to get involved in or to become the victims of crime.

Even when parents can be at home, they often are too busy preparing meals and taking care of pressing household needs, to be able to work with children on their homework.  Many of these children also live in families where the parent’s level of education or understanding of the English language may not be adequate to help their kids with school work.

"When you divide a student’s time into its parts, sleeping, eating, recreation, a student winds up with less than 10% of his or her time devoted to receiving classroom instruction.  As a society, we expect a great deal from our teachers, but there is only so much that can be done in this limited amount of time."

Additionally, students in California are in school about 180 days a year, the second fewest number of days of any state in the U.S.  When you divide a student’s time into its parts, sleeping, eating, recreation, a student winds up with less than 10% of his or her time devoted to receiving classroom instruction.  As a society, we expect a great deal from our teachers, but there is only so much that can be done in this limited amount of time.  If we are to adequately address the student achievement gap, we need partners who can aid parents and educators in teaching our children.

These students represent the same bell-curve of human potential as everyone else, but they need a boost to get up to proficiency.  They need a safe place to go after school where they can receive academic assistance, interact in enriching ways with their peers, and get healthy physical education and nutritious snacks in the presence of positive role models.

Our programs typically operate in schools with a free and reduced lunch populations greater than 50%. By utilizing funds from and forming partnerships with the state of California, school districts, corporations, foundations, organizations, and individuals, we are able provide full scholarships so that even the neediest students can participate in our programs.

The THINK Together program

"While many after school programs have a recreation and enrichment focus, we hire educators and after school innovators, employing multiple staff members with Doctorates in Education.  We train our staff extensively to ensure consistent program quality."

At THINK Together our employees are not simply babysitters; they are caring advocates who understand that every child has the right to reach his or her full potential.  While many after school programs have an enrichment and recreation focus, we hire educators and after school innovators, employing multiple staff members with Doctorates in Education.  We train our staff extensively to ensure consistent program quality.  Our unique combination of of homework help, academic enrichment, structured physical activity, and nutrition education, allows THINK Together to go beyond simply providing a safe space for kids after school, and enables us to help students develop to their full potential.

We understand that low self-esteem, doubt, fear, and uncertainty can often be the greatest barriers to a student’s achievement, so we encourage our kids to believe in themselves, and provide them with the tools they need to succeed.  We work to help each student achieve the academic successes needed to participate in the contemporary knowledge-based economy, as citizens, workers, and family members.

Finally, we always remember that learning should be fun.  Our programs teach students in ways that access their unique abilities and curiosities.  We know that when done properly, education and enjoyment are not opposites; they compliment one another.

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