AfterSchool HQ partners with IPS to Track and Increase Extracurricular Activity in Schools 

Families will have access to all after-school programming in Indianapolis through web-based tool  

INDIANAPOLIS – April 27, 2022 – AfterSchool HQ, an Indianapolis-based education company, today announced its partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) to increase access to extracurricular after-school activities and to program options across the city.

Through this initiative, IPS will roll out AfterSchool HQ’s online platform to participating schools in the district, giving parents direct access to extracurricular options and a centralized location for community organizations to promote their programs.

“We are excited about our partnership with AfterSchool HQ because of the variety of options we will be able to provide to our students and families. The ability to see all of a school’s extracurricular programs, as well as offerings for students throughout the city, will hopefully increase participation in these enrichment opportunities,” said IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. “The AfterSchool HQ platform is not only user-friendly, but also allows for easy selection and sign-up processes, as well as the ability to also pay participation fees online.”

The goal of the program is to help IPS reach a goal of 40 percent participating in after-school programs, said Darye Henry, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at AfterSchool HQ, who noted that Indiana is the fourth lowest state in the nation for after-school participation.

He pointed to a recent report by the AfterSchool Alliance, for every child in an after-school program, three are waiting to get in, with 161,613 children alone and unsupervised after-school.

The report’s research finds that Indiana’s children who are fortunate enough to take part in after-school programs are receiving critical support and ninety-seven percent of Indiana parents who have children in after-school programs are satisfied with the program.

“We believe that by giving IPS parents full visibility to after-school programming, we will increase enrollment,” Henry said. “Two of the biggest barriers to after-school success are access to program options and registration accessibility. Our platform will make it easier for parents to find programs across Indianapolis and sign up.”

With the mission of engaging students in activities that ignite their passions, AfterSchool HQ will provide a web-based platform to IPS families to connect parents and students with programs in their community that offer both in-person and virtual activities within the district.

For parents, the database of programs provides a central location to discover and register. AfterSchool HQ will assist with recruiting and vetting all after-school program providers for families.

For more information on the project, visit AfterSchool HQ’s district launch page.

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