A project of the Afterschool Alliance.

Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Evaluation 2015-16 Evaluation Report

Year Published: 2017

A statewide evaluation of Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs during the 2015-16 program year found that, according to site coordinator surveys, students attending a program for at least 30 days (regular attendees) experienced high levels of program engagement. Regular program participants also showed high rates of regular school day attendance (94.6 percent) and low rates of disciplinary infractions (10.8 percent).  

Program Name: Connecticut 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Program Description:

Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which is federally-funded through the 21st CCLC Initiative, provides academic enrichment opportunities for children at high-poverty and low-performing schools. During the 2015-16 program year, 30 grantees operated 97 sites and served 9,737 students.  

Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide

Program Type: Afterschool

Location: Connecticut

Grade level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Program Demographics:

All schools served by Connecticut’s 21st CCLC programs are Title I eligible, meaning more than 40 percent of students qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. In the 2015-16 program year, 80.3 percent of students were eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. Regarding race and ethnicity, 44.4 percent of students identified as Hispanic or Latino, 33.7 percent as Black, 13.7 as White, and 2.2 as Asian or Pacific Islander and less than 1 percent as American Indian or Alaskan Native.  

Program Website: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/21st_CCLC/Learn-about-21st-CCLCs

Evaluator: Reid, A., Dealy, J., Annett, D., & Sabatelli, R. Center for Applied Research in Human Development at the University of Connecticut.

Evaluation Methods:

This evaluation relies on three separate sources of data. The evaluation collected general data on programs and program participants through an online data management system called AfterSchool21, gathered site coordinator feedback through the End of Year Survey online survey system, and recorded student attendance and behavior information from the State Department of Education for students attending a program for at least 30 days. 

Evaluation Type: Non-experimental

Summary of Outcomes:

A statewide evaluation of Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs during the 2015-16 program year found that, according to site coordinator surveys, students attending a program for at least 30 days (regular attendees) experienced high levels of program engagement.

In a June 2016 online survey, site coordinators indicated that the majority of sites allowed students to choose activities they participated in (80.4 percent), initiate projects based on their interest (57.7 percent), and be involved in the planning or implementation of activities on at least a weekly basis (67 percent).

Regular program participants also showed high rates of regular school day attendance, with an average attendance rate of 94.6 percent (equivalent to missing about 10 days in a 180-day school year). With regard to school day behavior, only 10.8 percent of regular program participants received one or more disciplinary infractions.