Important Update on Afterschool Programming for 2025-2026 School Year

Jackson Public Schools is indeed moving forward with its continued initiative to transform and strengthen its after-school offerings for the 2025-2026 school year. The district's focus is on providing a mix of in-house programming and partnering with community organizations to offer a variety of options for students and families. Our goal is to expand these opportunities, but please understand that due to differences in resources, not all schools will be able to offer the same after-school programs.

Here's a breakdown of what the district is doing and how families can find the necessary information:

JPS Out-of-School Offerings

• School-Based Programming: Individual schools often have their own specific after-school activities. These specific after-school activities will target improving student outcomes, providing remediation and intervention support, with a focus on joyful learning environments.    

• School-Based Community Partnership Programming:  These after-school programming opportunities are housed at the local schools but managed by our community partners. The primary goal is to provide students with enrichment that fosters their academic, social, and emotional development. 

• Community After-School Providers:  The district is actively working to partner with "the best available community programs." This indicates a strong commitment to leveraging the resources and expertise of local organizations to provide a diverse range of activities. Several community organizations are already working with or serving JPS students. For example, the Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM) offers an after-school program called "Launch into Learning" for students from specific JPS elementary schools. Similarly, Operation Shoestring has a "Project Rise" that transports students from a JPS elementary school.  The Boys and Girls Club offers fun after-school and summer enrichment activities that inspire and support our youth as they work towards graduating high school and planning for their future in college and careers. This highlights some existing partnerships and the types of programs available. 

Information and Resources for Families

The JPS Parent and Family Engagement Center is a valuable resource for families. It provides educational materials, workshops, and information to help parents become more involved in their children's education. The center's staff can also assist parents in connecting with community services. 

Community-Based Afterschool Resources

To support our families, we have compiled a list of local After-school programs and services available within the community. These opportunities offer a variety of educational, recreational, and social experiences for students outside the traditional school setting.

Community Afterschool Programs

As we continue to shape the future of afterschool programming within Jackson Public Schools, we encourage parents and guardians to reach out to their respective school principals for updates on any current afterschool offerings or changes specific to their child’s school.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to provide more robust, innovative, and inclusive programming for all of our scholars.