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Putting Research Into Practice – for an academic afterschool program, post COVID

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Putting Research Into Practice – for an academic afterschool program, post COVID

This guest blog is by Lynsey Wood Jeffries, CEO of Higher Achievement, an afterschool and summer program serving middle school scholars in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA. Findings from the evaluation on Higher Achievement was recently included in an Afterschool Alliance brief, “The Latest Research on the Impact of Afterschool and Summer Programs.”

Schools today are daunting. Students are 2.5 times more likely to attend a school with chronic absenteeism. Teachers are missing far more school than pre-COVID, and there are far too few school counselors. With less time and consistency in classrooms, learning is slower to rebound in marginalized communities. The systemic barriers to equitable education persist, as do the resulting achievement gaps across race and income, and the U.S. is 28th in math scores internationally.

Coupled with chronic absenteeism and achievement gaps, there is a growing public mental health crisis with 1 in 5 children facing serious mental health challenges — a 65% growth in feelings of “persistent sadness and hopelessness” since before COVID.

This is a complex knot to untangle. Amid this struggle, there is hope.

High quality after-school and mentoring programs have been proven by empirical research to address these challenges. Entities from the National League of Cities to the Biden Administration have elevated the importance of these programs to address the “long COVID” of education. The evidence demonstrating afterschool’s effects on in-school attendance is vast, as documented in a brief on 21st CCLC programs.

At our after-school program, Higher Achievement, participants were 52% less likely to be chronically absent than students who attended the host schools last year. When student school attendance improves, academic achievement soon follows. In fact, in two randomized controlled trials by MDRC, Higher Achievement has demonstrated statistically significant results on test scores and report card grades. 

The second study, published in 2020, was funded by our landmark i3 grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2015 and Venture Philanthropy Partners. MDRC compared grades and test scores between students admitted to Higher Achievement through a random-assignment lottery with those in the comparison (control) group, to remove any selection bias. After two years in the program, admitted students’ GPAs across all four core subjects (reading, math, social studies, science) were statistically significantly higher than those in the comparison group. Moreover, math grades for boys admitted to Higher Achievement were significantly higher after the first year in the program. Test scores were higher for the admitted group, but not statistically significant.

While many organizations struggle to maintain outcomes during expansion, this study demonstrates that Higher Achievement is an exception. We were able to replicate significant academic effects in Baltimore and Richmond, beyond the flagship site of Washington, DC.

The researchers also interviewed staff and volunteers and conducted site visits to produce a robust implementation study. We struggle with many of the same implementation struggles as other out-of-school time programs, and this study led us to make changes to address these challenges. For example:

  • Front Line Staff Turnover: Our scholar outcomes are measurably stronger when the director of their Center has served in that role for at least two years. However, we were struggling to retain talent due to burnout and uncompetitive salaries. In 2021, we made a number of changes to increase retention. These changes included: increasing front-line salaries by 20% to match the 50% industry comparables, extending our Afterschool Academy by seven weeks and phasing out our Summer Academy to enable time for planning, mentor recruitment and training, and rest. As a result, our full-time staff retention increased from 71% to 92%. We now refer scholars to programs that specialize in summer learning.
     
  • Coordination with Host School: Higher Achievement operates our program in school buildings, and like many of our peers, we sometimes struggle with logistics and communication with our school partners. To address this challenge, our local Directors of Program Operations and front-line Learning Directors share academic and social-emotional data with our host school leadership at least twice per year, and our Executive Directors meet with host school principals every summer, at a minimum, to align our service delivery with the schools’ priorities. As a result, 11 of our 12 host schools have been stable for the past three years.

Our hope is that the findings and actions that we’ve taken as a result of this study are helpful to other afterschool programs, eager to learn and grow. The stakes are high, and we are stronger in partnership.

New survey results show parents want more summer programming

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/26/24

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Survey results point to a summer of learning and engagement ahead for young people

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Pandemic relief funds expanded support for underserved students in Minnesota

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BY: Guest Blogger      12/01/23

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BY: Liana Shivers      11/28/23

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COVID-relief funds deep dive (part 2)

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BY: Guest Blogger      09/22/23

New dashboard presents a retrospective of the Afterschool in the Time of COVID-19 survey series

Over the course of the last three years, thanks to the afterschool field’s generous nature and taking the time during an incredibly tumultuous period to respond to our surveys, the Afterschool Alliance has been able to track the changing landscape of the afterschool field. A recently released...

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We continue to add examples to the American Rescue Plan map, illuminating how cities, states, and school districts use pandemic relief funds to support afterschool and summer learning. Today, we are focusing on mental health. Why? May is National Mental Health Awareness Month! In 2021,...

BY: Liana Shivers      05/12/23

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A 2023 U.S. Department of Education report on 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) programs nationally found that nearly half of participating students who were chronically absent the previous year improved their school-day attendance in the current school year, while a meta-analysis...

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      05/23/24

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A recent report on pandemic relief funds showed the numerous ways that school districts are using federal funds to support students with afterschool and summer learning opportunities. A new spotlight dives deeper into one example in Minnesota and how St. Louis Park Public Schools used American...

BY: Liana Shivers      04/12/24

5 facts about rural school districts’ pandemic relief spending on afterschool and summer programs

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      03/22/24

New fact sheet: Using American Rescue Plan Funds For Afterschool And Summer Programs

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      02/26/24

Cultivating the next workforce generation in afterschool programs

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BY: Sophie Kidd      02/02/24

Year in review: Pandemic relief funds support the nutrition of young people

In 2023, we released eight blogs and collected over 550 examples on our American Rescue Plan map, highlighting some of the amazing ways pandemic relief funds are being utilized for afterschool and summer. These funds have supported youth access to arts, physical activity, mental health services,...

BY: Emily Murtaugh      01/04/24

Tracking American Rescue Plan funds: Recommendations from the field

By Emily Murtaugh and Liana Shivers. In October, the Afterschool Alliance released a new report, “Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts’ Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities,” detailing how districts are...

BY: Guest Blogger      12/01/23

American Rescue Plan funds support afterschool programs for Native American families

Native Americans represent more than 570 tribes, 3.7 million people, and 644,000 students across the country. The America After 3PM for Native American Families fact sheet highlights how afterschool programs play an important role in Native American communities by providing comprehensive support...

BY: Liana Shivers      11/28/23

5 facts about rural school districts’ pandemic relief spending on afterschool and summer programs

In rural Washington State, one school district invested a quarter of a million dollars of its American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to create a brand-new afterschool program for the district’s elementary school students that provided extra homework help, STEM learning opportunities, and time for...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      03/22/24

New fact sheet: Using American Rescue Plan Funds For Afterschool And Summer Programs

Following up on findings from the “Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts’ Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities” report, our new fact sheet describes the impact of American Rescue Plan (ARP) investments in...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      02/26/24

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BY: Sophie Kidd      11/07/23

New dashboard presents a retrospective of the Afterschool in the Time of COVID-19 survey series

Over the course of the last three years, thanks to the afterschool field’s generous nature and taking the time during an incredibly tumultuous period to respond to our surveys, the Afterschool Alliance has been able to track the changing landscape of the afterschool field. A recently released...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/19/23

Survey finds that programs open this summer will reach the highest levels in three years

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/14/23

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BY: Jillian Luchner      05/08/23

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We’re thrilled to share a new and improved interactive map showing examples of afterschool and summer programming supported by pandemic relief funds. From experiential learning camps in Vermont where youth learned how to use a compass and identify wild edibles; to STEM offerings in...

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BY: Guest Blogger      04/14/23

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BY: Emily Murtaugh      04/10/23

How are high-poverty school districts’ spending their American Rescue Plan funds on afterschool and summer programs?

In New Jersey’s East Orange School District, students from families with low incomes benefitted from expanded enrichment and academic support, thanks to the district’s investment of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds in afterschool and summer programs. For example, the district was able...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      05/23/24

New survey: Afterschool programs advance learning recovery efforts but face staffing and cost challenges

Based on a new national survey of 1,116 afterschool program providers, programs are supporting students’ academic development, strengthening peer-to-peer connections, and creating opportunities where they can practice life skills. At the same time, providers report grappling with issues such...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      04/25/24

Pandemic relief funds expanded support for underserved students in Minnesota

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BY: Liana Shivers      04/12/24

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      05/30/23

Women voters say that they want increased access to afterschool

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      03/31/23

Listening to Black voters: Afterschool is essential

Results are in! By overwhelming majorities, Black voters agree on the value of afterschool and summer learning programs. From inspiring children to learn to supporting young people’s well-being, polling affirms that Black voters are in favor of afterschool programs for our nation’s...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      03/13/23

Oklahoma afterschool program supports Native American youth

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BY: Sophie Kidd      02/13/23

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BY: Guest Blogger      02/09/23

New America After 3PM brief focuses on Native American youth and families

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BY: Sophie Kidd      01/12/23

New survey results show parents want more summer programming

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/26/24

New report on summer 2023 programming

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      06/14/24

Survey results point to a summer of learning and engagement ahead for young people

As the temperature starts to rise, and in D.C., we start to feel the familiar humidity creep into the air, one’s thoughts can’t help but turn to summer—and for those of us at the Afterschool Alliance, that includes thinking about what the state of summer programming will look...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      05/17/24

Phase II findings from the National Summer Learning and Enrichment Study explore how SEAs approached summer

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BY: Sophie Kidd      11/16/23

Survey finds that programs open this summer will reach the highest levels in three years

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BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/14/23

Best practices from school districts for advancing equity in expanded learning

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BY: Sophie Kidd      07/03/23

Pandemic relief funds are supporting summer learning opportunities for youth

Photo courtesy of GENTS & GLAM As we look forward to National Summer Learning Week on July 10-14, we’re shining a light on the ways COVID-relief funds are supporting students while school is out for the summer. Thanks to these funds, kids have the opportunity to explore new activities,...

BY: Sophie Kidd      06/28/23

New study examines how districts approached summer learning in 2021

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BY: Sophie Kidd      03/14/23

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BY: Sophie Kidd      11/10/22

Youth value voice, preparing for the future, and making a difference in afterschool

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BY: Ursula Helminski      07/16/24

New report on summer 2023 programming

“Looking ahead to summer 2024, it seems like summer programming is poised to shrink rather than grow…Now that so many districts have ramped up their summer programming, the United States could choose a different path by building on the momentum already achieved—instead of scaling...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      06/14/24

Phase II findings from the National Summer Learning and Enrichment Study explore how SEAs approached summer

Researchers at Westat released the second batch of findings from the National Summer Learning & Enrichment Study. The Wallace Foundation is supporting the study. This release is the second in a series of three reports taking a closer look at summer learning in 2021 from the perspective of state...

BY: Sophie Kidd      11/16/23

Survey finds that programs open this summer will reach the highest levels in three years

Thanks to the more than 1,100 program providers who responded to Afterschool Alliance’s spring survey to better understand the current state of the field, we are able to share some insights into what providers anticipate for this summer. This summer, program providers are much more certain...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro      07/14/23

Pandemic relief funds are supporting summer learning opportunities for youth

Photo courtesy of GENTS & GLAM As we look forward to National Summer Learning Week on July 10-14, we’re shining a light on the ways COVID-relief funds are supporting students while school is out for the summer. Thanks to these funds, kids have the opportunity to explore new activities,...

BY: Sophie Kidd      06/28/23