City lights on for after-school programs

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The 10th anniversary of "Lights On Afterschool" Thursday focused on the importance of after-school initiatives, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

More than 7,500 events across the country and at military bases worldwide stressed the importance of post-school day activities for children, families and communities, Duncan said in a news release.

"Learning doesn't just happen in a classroom between school bells," Duncan said. "Children learn all day long. So it's vital to give students and their families the tools, the facilities and the opportunity to continue working on traditional academic subjects, as well as a place for broader lessons in areas like art and music to enrich their lives."

Among some of the more impressive "Lights On Afterschool" displays were the Empire State Building in New York and Lindbergh Beacon atop Los Angeles City Hall, Duncan said.

A study by the Afterschool Alliance, which organizes the Lights On Afterschool initiative, indicated more than 15 million U.S. children are alone and unsupervised after the school day ends, Duncan said.

Besides providing a safe and supervised place to go after school, good after-school programs offer students homework help and can introduce them to potentially lifelong activities, he said.