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Iowa Afterschool State Evaluation Report 2016
Year Published: 2016
A statewide evaluation of Iowa’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs examined student attendance and behavior as well as academic gains in reading and math. On average, 66.1 percent of students improved in reading and 75 percent improved in math compared with the national average of 49 percent. In addition, 63 percent of regularly attending program participants improved their behavior compared with the national average of 56 percent.
Program Name: Iowa 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Program Description:
Iowa’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which is federally-funded through the 21st CCLC Initiative, provides students in high-need, high-poverty communities with academic enrichment opportunities in afterschool programming. In 2016, Iowa had 21 grantee organizations operating 102 sites serving 13,432 students.
Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide
Program Type: Afterschool
Location: Iowa
Grade level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Program Demographics:
All schools served by Iowa’s 21st CCLC programs are Title I eligible, meaning more than 40 percent of students qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. In 2016, 64.6 percent of program participants qualified for free or reduced price lunch, 13 percent were categorized as limited English proficient, and 12 percent were students with a disability. Overall 38.9 percent of children served by programs were children of color with 52 percent identifying as White, 18 percent identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 13 percent identifying as Black or African American, 5.7 percent identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 2.2 percent identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native.
Program Website: https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/title-programs/title-iv-part-b-21st-century-community-learning-centers
Evaluator: Cravey, R. & Sinclair, E. Educational Resource Management Solutions
Evaluation Methods:
This evaluation examined data from local center evaluations, the U.S. Department of Education Annual Performance Report (APR), and an end-of-year survey given to grantees. Local center evaluations and the federal APR were used to gather demographic data and track the percentage of attendees scoring proficient or better on reading and mathematics assessments. The end-of-year survey gathered general program information such as student needs, achievement, programming, and family engagement.
Evaluation Type: Non-experimental
Summary of Outcomes:
The evaluation of Iowa’s 21st CCLC programs showed improvement in the math and reading proficiency for regular program participants. The federal APR data reports that statewide, 66.1 percent of program participants improved in reading and 75 percent improved in math compared with the national average of 49 percent. When looking at the local level, notable academic achievements included regular program participants in Andrew, where students exhibited an achievement growth rate of 87 percent in literacy and 86 percent in math.
Surveyed parents agreed about the effect of program participation on academic performance. For example, more than 98 percent of Council Bluffs CSD parents said the program has had a positive impact on students’ education growth.
In addition, federal APR data reports that 63 percent of regularly attending program participants improved their behavior compared with 56 percent nationally, with higher participation days leading to greater improvement. Principals and teachers also reported fewer referrals for at-risk youth that attend 21st CCLC programs.
Associated Evaluation: https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/Iowa21stCCLCStateEvaluation2016_0.pdf
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