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North Dakota 21st Century Community Learning Centers 2017-18 School Year Statewide Evaluation
Year Published: 2018
A 2018 evaluation of North Dakota’s 21st CCLC programs by Westwood Research & Statistical Services found that an overwhelming majority of teachers reported the programs helped students regularly attending 21st CCLC programs improve their homework completion and/or class participation (87 percent) and classroom behavior (81 percent). Additionally, more than 4 in 5 parents indicated that the programs helped their child improve their reading skills (84 percent), math skills (83 percent), and attitude toward school (87 percent). A majority of students agreed that the programs helped them with reading (74 percent) and math (69 percent), that they liked school better because of the programs (77 percent) and that they made new friends at the program (83 percent).
Program Name: North Dakota 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Program Description:
North Dakota’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which receives federal funding through the 21st CCLC initiative, provides afterschool and summer academic enrichment opportunities for children at high-poverty and low-performing schools throughout the state. During the 2017-18 program year, 10 grantees operated programs in 98 sites, serving 8,193 students.
Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide
Program Type: Afterschool
Location: North Dakota
Grade level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Demographics:
During the 2017-18 program year, 49 percent of students were eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch, 2.4 percent were identified limited English proficient, 4.7 percent had an Individual Education Plan, and 6.5 percent received special education services. Regarding race and ethnicity, 58 percent identified as White and 23 percent as American Indian/Alaskan Native.
Program Website: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/SchoolStaff/SSI/21CCLC/
Evaluator: Westwood Research & Statistical Services
Evaluation Methods:
This evaluation includes both qualitative data, collected from site visits and interviews with project directors, and quantitative data, provided by grantees via Cityspan (YouthServices.net) and SurveyMonkey. The site visits assessed areas such as activities offered, program safety, and interactions between students and staff; the quantitative data collected includes demographics; programming information; and teacher, parent, student, and partner surveys.
Evaluation Type: Non-experimental
Summary of Outcomes:
A statewide evaluation of North Dakota’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers found positive academic and behavioral gains for students. Overall almost all teachers believe that the afterschool program is beneficial for both students and families in the community (98 percent), while most agreed that the afterschool program offers activities addressing students’ academic needs (83 percent) and relates closely to what is being taught during the school day (77 percent). Regarding classroom performance, 87 percent of teachers reported that the students regularly attending the 21st CCLC program improved their homework completion and/or class participation since the beginning of the school year, and 81 percent reported that students improved their behavior.
Additionally, parents overall have positive perceptions of their child’s 21st CCLC program. A large majority of parents report that their child improved their attitude toward school (87 percent), reading skills (84 percent), and math skills (83 percent). Parents were also highly satisfied with their child’s afterschool program (98 percent), indicating that the program provides their child with a safe setting to participate in activities (99 percent) and that the program offers a variety of activities to help them learn (96 percent).
Finally, student survey results also showed that students associate their 21st CCLC program with positive academic, behavioral, and social impacts. Most students thought the afterschool program helped them read better (74 percent) and do better at math (69 percent). Further, 93 percent of students said that they felt safe at the afterschool program, 83 percent of students said that they made new friends at the program, and 77 percent said they liked school more because of their program.
Date Added: June 30, 2021
