Launching a new after-school program is exciting – it’s a way to share what you are passionate about while also helping kids learn, find new interests, and make new friends. But it can be discouraging when it takes longer than expected to get it off the ground. If you don’t already have a connection to a school, trying to figure out a way to get your program in front of parents may seem daunting… so we’re here to share a few things you can do to increase enrollment in your after-school program.
1. Get involved in the community
Putting yourself out there in your community is a great way to raise awareness about what you have to offer. Take a look at local events and festivals to see if there are any you want to sponsor or participate in.
Another way to get involved is to offer free or low-cost workshops or events to give students a taste of what it would be like to participate in your program. Promote the event through social media, community centers, and online forums. Letting students experience your program in small chunks can help them take the plunge into signing up for a semester- or year-long program.
2. Create a social media presence
Keeping your social media up to date allows parents to build trust and get a peek into what your program is about. Share behind-the-scenes photos, helpful or educational information, and updates about current/upcoming activities. When you keep your social media active, parents can start to imagine their own children participating in the activities you post about.
But maintaining social accounts is only the first step. Join local family or community groups on Facebook to connect with parents so that your program is top of mind when they begin looking. Make sure you are posting and responding in a way that’s friendly and helpful – if you only make posts that feel like a sales pitch, people might get turned off.
3. Keep an eye on program data
Tracking data is important to gauge the effectiveness of any program, but it can also give you insight into what types of activities students enjoy participating in.
To get started, an easy metric to begin tracking is student attendance. When are the most students showing up? Is it during a specific day of the week? Is it only on days when an outdoor activity is planned? If you run a program that rotates between different activities, games, or topics, keeping track of attendance is a way to measure what students are actually interested in.
Start working on a couple of these steps and your program will be off the ground in no time. And if you are interested in a way to quickly and simply get connected with schools, send us an email at hello@afterschoolhq.com.
Photo by Yan Krukov from Pexels.
