Afterschool Alliance Research

Afterschool Programs Keep Kids Safe, Engage Kids in Learning and Help Working Families (2014)

A concise overview of the state of afterschool in the U.S., as well as key research on the benefits and outcomes associated with participation in programs. 

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Afterschool in Action: Promoting Middle School Success Through Innovative Afterschool Programs (2014)

In collaboration with the MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance is proud to present the sixth and final round of the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards, highlighting the exemplary work of afterschool programs around the country. This compendium provides an overview of this work, highlights the nearly 100 programs featured in MetLife Foundation issue briefs through the years and presents profiles of the five 2014 award winners. This compendium also includes four briefs discussing: the Common Core State Standards; supporting students with disabilities and other special needs; keeping kids safe and supported in the hours after school; and using data to better serve students.

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Looking at the Data: Afterschool Programs Using Data to Better Serve Students (August 2014)

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation is proud to present the last of four issue briefs in our sixth series examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief addresses what afterschool programs gain through data collection and evaluation, how to evaluate a program effectively and how to use to data collected for program improvement.

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Afterschool Supporting Students with Disabilities and Other Special Needs (February 2014)

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, is proud to present the second of four issue briefs in our sixth series examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief addresses the importance of a high school diploma for students with disabilities and other special needs, and how afterschool programs can provide an inclusive learning environment that supports students of all abilities.

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Taking a Deeper Dive into Afterschool: Positive Outcomes and Promising Practices (February 2014)

Knowledge of the afterschool field has grown substantially in the past 15 years, confirming that quality afterschool programs increase participants’ engagement in school, reduce their participation in at-risk behavior, and raise their academic performance. Growing emphasis on evidence-based practices has increased the frequency of afterschool program evaluations, making the positive outcomes of participation in programs more transparent. This report reviews these outcomes by synthesizing high-quality evaluations of 10 programs, summarizing promising practices from research spanning hundreds of programs, and providing specific examples of practices used in programs.

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Afterschool and the Common Core State Standards (January 2014)

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, is proud to present the first of four issue briefs in our sixth series examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This brief discusses how U.S. students measure up globally, the call for focus on 21st century skills, the goals of Common Core, and how afterschool programs are working with students, teachers and schools to help them reach these goals.

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Preventing Dropouts: The Important Role of Afterschool (2013)

Although much progress has been made in decreasing high school dropout rates nationally, over the last decade, significant gaps persist among states, races, income levels, and students with disabilities and limited English proficiency. This issue brief describes the national impacts of the dropout problem, identifies the risk factors, and evaluates how to address the dropout problem and ways afterschool programs can help.

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The Importance of Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs in African-American and Latino Communities (2013)

The national economy is slowly recovering from the Great Recession, yet a deeper examination of its effect on African-American and Latino households reveals that these communities are facing higher rates of unemployment, poverty, homelessness and food insecurity. This issue brief looks closely at the current economic state of African-American and Latino communities, the far-reaching impact of poverty on academic achievement and highlights the important role afterschool and summer programs play in supporting youth and families in these communities. Afterschool and summer learning programs provide youth who are most in need of support with a safe and supervised space, healthy snacks and meals, and an academically enriching environment. However, this issue brief outlines the challenges these programs confront to keep pace with demand for their services, as well as ensure their doors stay open to continue to provide essential resources that are highly valued in African-American and Latino communities.

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Summer Learning Programs Nourish Kids Bodies and Minds (2013)

Not only do summer learning programs keep kids safe and engaged in academically enriching activities that help stem the "summer slide," they also help parents ensure their kids are getting nutritious food while school's out. This fact sheet highlights the important role summer learning programs play in feeding high-needs children, addresses the challenges programs face in providing a summer meal and outlines the benefits of programs’ participation in the USDA Summer Food Service Program.

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Afterschool in Action: Innovative Afterschool Programs Supporting Middle School Youth (2013)

This year marks the fifth round of the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards. For the past five years, we have collaborated to highlight the work of quality afterschool programs that support children, families and communities across the nation. This compendium includes an in-depth profile of 2012 Afterschool Innovator Award winners, a review of 2008-2011 winners, and a compilation of four issue briefs exploring afterschool’s role in school improvement efforts, arts enrichment, parent engagement and digital learning.

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