Afterschool Alliance Research

America After 3PM Special Report: Afterschool in Communities of Concentrated Poverty (August 2016)

This report examines the role that afterschool programs play in supporting families living in high-poverty areas and discusses the demand for afterschool programs in these areas along with families’ experiences with afterschool. Afterschool in Communities of Concentrated Poverty is presented as part of the third edition of America After 3PM, which spans a decade of household survey data chronicling how children spend the hours between 3 and 6 p.m.

Download
Executive Summary

Afterschool Providing Key Literacy Supports to English Language Learner Students (June 2017)

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with Dollar General Literacy Foundation, is proud to present this issue brief focusing on the integral supports afterschool programs provide to build English language learner (ELL) students’ literacy skills. In addition to this issue brief, which outlines the challenges facing ELL students and the opportunities participating in afterschool programs afford, six complementary in-depth afterschool program profiles highlight different roles programs play to engage ELL students:

• Columbus State Community College’s ESL Afterschool Communities: Providing comprehensive supports for both ELL students and their families
• La Prensa Libre de Simpson Street: Offering literacy-related activities that promote student motivation and interest
• Mighty Writers El Futuro Program: Providing a culturally sensitive atmosphere when helping develop ELL students’ literacy skills
• ourBRIDGE for KIDS: Engaging English language learners’ families to promote literacy skills
• Raider’s ARK (Academics Reinforcing Knowledge) After-School Program: Using a mix of learning approaches to build ELL students’ literacy skills
• The Bridge Project: Fostering community and school partnerships to ensure that ELL students receive the additional literacy supports that they need

Download

Library and Afterschool Partnerships (Sept 2017)

With the support of STAR_Net (the Science Technology Activities and Resources Library Education Network), a project of the Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL), and the American Library Association, the Afterschool Alliance surveyed 365 afterschool providers on their perceptions of public libraries, what kinds of partnerships they have, as well as ideas for future growth.

Download

Building Workforce Skills in Afterschool (Nov 2017)

A strong and vibrant economy is reliant on a strong and vibrant workforce equipped with the necessary skills, competencies, and knowledge. This issue brief highlights the ladder of supports afterschool and summer learning programs provide to help students develop the skills and gain the experience that will benefit them in the workforce, from building students’ communication and teamwork skills in elementary school to connecting students to internships and apprenticeships in high school. In addition to this issue brief, six complementary in-depth afterschool program profiles highlight different roles programs play to build students’ workforce skills:

Building students’ foundational skills and competencies that will help them in the workforce and in life

• Minneapolis Beacons

Introducing students to new interests, opening their eyes to potential career pathways

• MedTWO
• The City
• YWCA Greater Miami-Dade Clubhouse

Providing real-world work experiences that help build students’ familiarity with and capabilities in the workforce

• EVOLUTIONS After School Program (Evoking Learning and Understanding Through Investigations in the Natural Sciences)
• Sunrise of Philadelphia

Download
Summary

What Does the Research Say About 21st Century Community Learning Centers? (Nov 2017)

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) are afterschool and summer learning programs that are locally-designed school and community solutions that help kids learn and grow, keep children and teenagers safe, and support families to balance work with home. This fact sheet provides a small sampling of findings from evaluations of the federally-funded Community Learning Centers programs that demonstrate the positive impact programs across the country are having on students' academics, school-day attendance, engagement in learning, and behavior. 

Download

What Does the Research Say About Afterschool? (Nov 2017)

Afterschool and summer learning programs inspire students to learn, keep children and teenagers safe, and give parents peace of mind. This fact sheet provides a small sampling of findings—from meta-analyses to program-level evaluations—that show that there is demonstrable evidence of the positive impact programs have on students' academics, school-day attendance, engagement in learning, and behavior. 

Download

This is Afterschool Fact Sheet (2018)

Decades of research show that afterschool programs help kids learn, grow, and make smart choices. Programs spark interest in learning so students attend school more often, get better grades, and improve their behavior in class. This fact sheet summarizes research demonstrating the multitude of benefits programs have on kids and their families. 

Download

Students learn more with afterschool STEM (April 2018)

A one-pager that makes the case for afterschool STEM using the latest research.

Download

An Ideal Opportunity: The Role of Afterschool in Social and Emotional Learning (May 2018)

Ensuring all children and youth thrive as they move through school and into their adult lives requires that they have the opportunity to develop the skills and competencies that will help them land their first job, navigate and overcome the challenges they will face, keep positive relationships, and make good decisions. Learn more in this issue brief about afterschool and summer learning programs, which have long been a place for positive youth development, helping in students' social and emotional development. In addition, in-depth afterschool program profiles that highlight the different roles programs play to support social and emotional learning complement this issue brief:

• WINGS for Kids: Taking an intentional and integrated approach to build students' social and emotional skills and competencies
• Girls on the Run: Prioritizing staff training and development
• Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley and McKinley Afterschool Program: Providing relevant and engaging project-based opportunities
• The Possibility Project: Promoting youth agency and voice

Download
Summary

21st CCLC Facts and Figures (2018)

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to before-school, afterschool, and summer learning programs. This fact sheet provides an updated overview of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, highlights its outcomes and benefits, and addresses the current state of funding.

Download