Learn more about the basics of evaluation, as well as how to find an evaluator for your program.
View Afterschool Alliance resources, including a glossary of terms used in the database, evaluation-related blogs, webinars and more.
Our list of evaluation resources from other organizations, including how to collect and work with data.
Want to find what we know about afterschool programs more broadly, not just individual programs? Head to our Afterschool Research page!
Year Published: 2015
An evaluation of more than 16,000 students participating in Michigan’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) during the 2013-14 school year. Regular participants saw improvements in their math and reading grades, homework completion, school day behavior, and attendance rates. The evaluation also found that the students’ math grades, teachers’ reports of homework completion and school behavior, students’ attendance and behavior in school, and students’ reports of their commitment to school all saw improvements the more total days they participated in program, starting at a minimum of 20 days.
Program Name: Michigan’s 21st CCLC program
Program Description: Michigan’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program—has received federal support through the 21st CCLC initiative—serves high-need communities across the state, providing local afterschool and summer programming designed to support students’ performance in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, academics, engagement in school, and behavior at school. During the 2013-14 school year, 29,297 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade were served by 40 grantees operating a total of 313 centers.
Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide
Program Type: Afterschool
Location: Michigan
Program Demographics: Forty-eight percent of participants were African-American, 33 percent were white, 13 percent were Hispanic, three percent were Middle Eastern, and three percent designated as “other.” Eighty-three percent of participating youth qualified for the free or reduced-price lunch program.
Program Website: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-6530_6809-39974--,00.html
Evaluator: Wu, J. Michigan State University.
Evaluation Methods: This evaluation includes information on a total of 16,326 participants throughout the 2013-2014 school year. Data was collected through 10,354 teacher surveys, 7,037 student surveys, and 5,592 parent surveys.
Evaluation Type: Non-experimental
Summary of Outcomes: The evaluation of Michigan’s 21st CCLC program reported that students in the program experienced academic gains, with teachers also reporting improvements among 21st CCLC program participants. Students who participated in the 21st CCLC programs for at least 20 days saw significant increases in math and those participating for 90 or more days saw improvements in reading. Teachers reported significant improvements in homework completion and school behavior for students who participated in the program for at least 40 days.
The evaluation also found that students saw improvements in their school day attendance and behavior in school. Based on school records, the evaluation found significant increases in school day attendance rates and decreases in suspensions for students who participated in the programs for a minimum of 20 days.
Greater gains were seen as students’ participation in the programs increased. Students’ math grades, teachers’ reports of homework completion and school behavior, students’ attendance and behavior in school, and students’ reports of their commitment to school all saw greater improvement the more days they participated in program, starting at a minimum of 20 days.
Associated Evaluation: https://cerc.msu.edu/upload/documents/21stCCLC-Program-highlights_2.pdf
Date Added: December 19, 2016