How Beyond the Bell Addresses No Child Left Behind
Afterschool programming is a key component of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. It is featured prominently in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (see Title IV, Part B, of the Act), which aims to provide opportunities for students and communities that include academic enrichment, family literacy, and other services. Also, high-quality afterschool programs can address many of the most important issues identified by the NCLB Act. Programs can help eliminate the achievement gaps through more focused and individualized instruction and enrichment for struggling students. English language learners can obtain additional support through afterschool activities and group interaction. Effective afterschool programs can aid student retention of knowledge and begin to build upon the learning of the school day. In addition, afterschool programs also provide many other benefits, including creating a safe space for students to be after school, enabling them to complete their homework, and fostering a sense of belonging and engagement in the program and also in the community at large.

The Beyond the Bell suite of products is designed to provide effective, practical resources to aid directors, principals, and staff in creating successful afterschool programs that serve the needs of their participants and the community. Three editions of the Toolkit have been published since 2000. The first edition was specifically designed for an earlier version of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, and offered tools and resources to help afterschool program managers consider all of the key decisions that go into creating an effective program. The second edition expanded and revised the material to make it even more useful to managers. The new third edition goes further, greatly expanding the resources provided to afterschool managers and directors, and adding pieces to support afterschool staff and school principals in helping their programs succeed.