News Release

Johns Hopkins University will begin in January offering a graduate certificate in out-of-school time learning to help after-school and summer learning directors and managers run exceptional programs.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Summer Learning, a research and advocacy center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, will administer the 15-credit program, designed to address the increased nationwide need for highly skilled after- school and summer learning providers, said Jennifer Brady, director of professional development at the Center for Summer Learning.

"With the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act and the passage of America COMPETES — the first federal legislation to focus exclusively on the summer months as a strategy in closing the achievement gap — there is a new emphasis on out-of-school-time learning and global competitiveness," Brady said. "We are on the front end of a trend where we expect increased demand for professionals to manage out-of-school time programs."

The new certificate is a collaborative effort involving the Center for Summer Learning and the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at the School of Education. Focusing on program management, the certificate targets the skills program directors and managers need to effectively run high-quality out-of-school time programs in both formal and informal settings

The certificate, which can be combined with another School of Education certificate to complete a master's degree, blends non-profit management skills with academic and youth development strategies and allows busy professionals the opportunity to complete the certificate by taking part-time classes, including some online.

"In order for our nation to have quality out-of-school time programs, we must provide programs with convenient formats that recruit and prepare highly skilled out-of-school time managers in the areas of budgeting, staff management, assessment, and program development that meets national standards," Brady said.

As the only center in the nation dedicated exclusively to summer learning research and advocacy, the Center for Summer Learning offers access to the latest tools and research from leaders in the field. The center also trains more than 2,000 summer program providers annually, serving a total of more than 1 million youth each year, and holds an annual national conference which draws more than 400 summer program providers nationwide.

For information about the certificate, including a list of required courses, or to apply, visit education.jhu.edu/ost or contact Jennifer Brady at 410-516-6230 or jbrady19@jhu.edu.

[Note: To localize this story, contact Jeanne Johnson at (410) 516-6180 or jeannejohnson@jhu.edu to see if any students are located in your coverage area.]