A project of the Afterschool Alliance.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Executive Summary: 2013-2014

Year Published: 2014

A statewide evaluation of Wisconsin’s 220 21st CCLC programs during the 2013-2014 school year. This evaluation focuses on the academic and behavioral outcomes of these programs. Primary teachers were surveyed to collect data on student academic performances, behavior, and engagement in learning. Key findings include that students who participated in Wisconsin’s 21st CCLC program experienced a number of improvements in academic performance, such as completing and turning in homework on time, school day attendance, and behavior, which includes getting along with others and coming to school motivated to learn.

Program Name: Wisconsin’s 21st CCLC Program

Program Description: Wisconsin’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program—which has received federal support through the 21st CCLC initiative—serves high-needs communities across the state, providing local afterschool and summer programming to 220 centers serving a total of 42,417 students during the 2013-14 school year.

Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide

Program Type: Afterschool

Location: Wisconsin

Program Demographics: In the 2013-2014 academic year, 77 percent of regular attendees were economically disadvantaged, 16 percent were English Language Learners, and 59 percent were students of color, including 32 percent African-American students, 22 percent Hispanic students, 4 percent Asian students, and 2 percent American Indian students.

Program Website: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/clc

Evaluator: Evers, T. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Evaluation Methods: Data on program characteristics, and students served was collected through grantees’ Annual Progress Reports (APR). Data on student’s academic performances, behavior, and engagement in learning was collected through teacher surveys.

Evaluation Type: Non-experimental

Summary of Outcomes:

Teachers of students participating in Wisconsin’s 21st CCLC programs reported a number of improvements in students' academic performance and behavior. Regarding academic performance, teachers reported that 73 percent of students improved their academic performance, 67 percent improved their participation in class, and 65 percent improved completing their homework. Teachers also reported that 46 percent of students improved attending class regularly.

Regarding student behavior, the report found that teachers reported that 60 percent of students saw improvements in coming to school motivated to learn, 60 percent improved getting along with their peers, 58 percent improved paying attention in class, and 56 percent improved their behavior in class.

Associated Evaluation: dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/clcexecsummary2013-14.pdf

Date Added: September 26, 2016