ARCHS is pleased to announce it has received a grant from The Herbert A. and Adrian W. Woods Foundation for $7,500 to support the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP). Since 2007, ASAP has made a dramatic impact on the lives of St. Louis area students, parents, educators and after school professionals. ARCHS serves as ASAP’s strategic contract management and fiscal agent.

More than 4,000 St. Louis area students are served under ASAP.

Click HERE to donate to ASAP.

The importance of after school programming to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is highly evident.

"ARCHS commitment to SLPS students and their families remains unsurpassed," said SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams. "Now in its fourth year, ASAP's after school programs have proven to be a vital component in the district's efforts to provide high-quality after school programs designed to improve academic achievement."

SLPS’ commitment to after school programming is also evident through its commitment to the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP). SLPS provides ASAP with $100,000 in annual funding, bus transportation services, staff support and free use of classroom and recreational space in its schools.

“St. Louis Public Schools values after school programs because the district values the education of our students,” said Judith King, Coordinator of After School Programs for SLPS. “After school programs give students the opportunity to enrich and extend the academic program of their regular school day.”

SLPS Executive Director of Community Education John Windom said the district understands the community involvement that ASAP brings, and by having such high standards it brings a coordinated system of quality programming when coupled with ongoing monitoring.

“St. Louis Public Schools recognizes that it does not possess all the knowledge that exists related to after school programs,” Windom said. “The district views its relationships with ASAP as an opportunity to formally work with other youth-serving organizations in an effort to provide the best, high quality, well supervised and closely monitored after school programs the community has to offer.”

ASAP is a community effort to increase access to quality after school services in the Greater St. Louis area. ASAP services not only support students with homework help and transfer learning through hands-on activities. They also support parents needing more family stability, after school professionals learning from each other and from outside experts, public and private funders pooling their resources and the region investing in its future and future leaders.

Since 2007, ASAP and its partners have added 2,560 new additional “after school slots” to the City of St. Louis.  ARCHS serves as ASAP’s strategic contract management and fiscal agent and St. Louis for Kids provides additional professional development expertise.

The After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) was proud to be one of 6,000 communities across the nation taking part in Lights On After School. The 11th annual Lights On After School was held October 21 and featured more than 1 million Americans rallying for after school programs.

Dozens of ASAP programs participated in Lights On After School and host Fall Festivals, Pajama Jams, Hip Hop Sock Hops, Sports Nights, Academic Olympics, After School Cook Off and more!

ASAP and its partners have added more than 2,600 new additional "after school slots" to the City of St. Louis. ASAP is working toward a goal of adding more than 5,600 new slots to assure that at least 22 percent of city-based students have access to after school services (the national average).

Check out the photo gallery page (click picture) to see more "Light's On" pictures from ASAP elementary schools Sherman, Peabody, Mason, Lexington, Jefferson and Stevens Middle School (21st Century)!

ASAP FUNDER SPOTLIGHT: United Way of Greater St. Louis' theme of "Helping People" is an understatement when looking at the impact the organization has on the region.

United Way brings the area together to help raise funding to support health and human services for 16 counties, which includes annual support for its member agencies that provide quality services to everyone from the elderly to children. With the community's support, over $67 million was raised in 2009 to support services and initiatives throughout Missouri and Illinois.

To achieve this, United Way has worked closely with ARCHS and other area organizations over the years to collaborate on important regional issues.