21st Century Community Learning Centers 2015-2016: A Descriptive Evaluation (West Virginia)

A statewide evaluation of West Virginia’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs–based on exam scores and teacher surveys–found that students attending a program for at least 30 days (regular attendees) experienced academic and behavioral improvements. The overwhelming majority of program participants either stayed the same or improved their performance level from the previous year on statewide exams in reading (elementary- 82 percent, middle school- 82.2 percent, high school- 83.5 percent) and math (elementary- 81.1 percent, middle school- 85.9 percent, high school- 83.1 percent). Teachers also reported improvements in students’ homework completion and class participation (69.1 percent) and overall behavior in the classroom (59.6 percent).   

Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Evaluation 2015-16 Evaluation Report

A statewide evaluation of Connecticut’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs during the 2015-16 program year found that, according to site coordinator surveys, students attending a program for at least 30 days (regular attendees) experienced high levels of program engagement. Regular program participants also showed high rates of regular school day attendance (94.6 percent) and low rates of disciplinary infractions (10.8 percent).  

21st Century Community Learning Centers: 2015-16 Evaluation Report (Nevada)

A statewide evaluation of Nevada’s 21^st Century Community Learning Center (21^st CCLC) programs—based on student grades and teacher surveys—demonstrates improvements in academic performance and behavior among regular program participants (attending 30 days or more). Approximately 3 out of 4 regularly attending students with room for improvement improved their overall academic performance (76.5 percent), while a strong majority of students with room for improvement made behavioral gains in areas such as classroom participation (72.8 percent), completing homework to the teacher’s satisfaction (69.1 percent), motivation to learn at school (68.4 percent), and classroom attentiveness (67.9 percent). Students and parents also expressed high satisfaction with 21^st CCLC programs. 

New Jersey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Year 4 Evaluation Report Impact Data for 2015-16

A statewide evaluation of New Jersey’s 21^st Century Community Learning Center (21^st CCLC) programs during the 2015-16 school year found statistically significant positive impacts in math achievement and reduced school day truancy incidents and grade retention among students who regularly participated in the programs. Program staff also reported positive perceptions of the ability of 21^st CCLC programming to connect with the school day, as well as promote youth engagement and decision-making.

The Impact of Afterschool STEM: Science Club

Science Club is a partnership between Northwestern University and the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, utilizing long-term mentoring relationships to engage low-income urban youth in science. In this selection of evaluation data from the 2013-2014 school year, participants demonstrated gains along three major categories of youth outcomes—interest in STEM, capacity to engage in STEM, and finding value in STEM.

Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, 2014-2015 Evaluation Report

A statewide evaluation of Texas’ 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs assessing operations, participation, and student achievement, as well as the relationship between each. Data was collected using student and staff surveys, program observations, and testing results. This evaluation found that students regularly participating in Texas 21st CCLC programs saw gains in their math performance, learning behavior, and persistence, as well as reductions in their school day absences and frequency of disciplinary incidents.

The Impact of Afterschool STEM: STEM 3D

STEM 3D: Integrating Science Afterschool, a project of The Franklin Institute, engages underserved youth and families in year-round STEM learning and career awareness through a combination of afterschool, home and community activities. In this selection of evaluation data from the 2014-2015 school year, participants demonstrated gains along three major categories of youth outcomes—interest in STEM, capacity to engage in STEM, and finding value in STEM.

Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth

A randomized controlled study following 5,000 low-income, predominantly African-American and Hispanic students from third to seventh grade in five urban school districts located in Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Duval County, FL; Pittsburgh, PA and Rochester, NY, assessing the impacts of no-cost, voluntary summer learning programs on academic performance and social and emotional skills. Students who had high attendance in the summer programming saw significant near term benefits (gains in the fall after the summer program) and long-term benefits (gains seen through the following spring after the summer program) in math after summer programming in 2013 and 2014, near and long-term benefits in language arts after summer 2014, and positive benefits to their social and emotional skills after summer 2014.

School’s Out New York City (SONYC) Year One Evaluation Findings

School’s Out New York City (SONYC) is New York City’s city-wide afterschool program for middle school students, developed as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign commitment to expand afterschool opportunities in 2014. According to surveys, program and school staff report improvements in youth social and emotional development and leadership skills. Families reported high levels of satisfaction with their program, with 97 percent saying they would recommend it to other families.

21st Century Community Learning Centers 2014-15 State Evaluation Report

An evaluation of 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) programs in Pennsylvania using federally reported 21APR data (where APR stands for “Annual Performance Report” and the 21APR system collects information on 21^st CCLC grantees and centers) and PA Grantee Reports to examine attendance and behavior; academic achievement in reading, math, and credit completion; and student and parent program satisfaction. The evaluation found that among students who regularly attended the program, 44 percent improved their reading grade from fall to spring and 43 percent improved their math grade from fall to spring. Based on teacher reports, 47 percent of regular program attendees improved their in-school behavior, and 56 percent of attendees improved homework outcomes. Overall, parents and students were both overwhelming “very satisfied” with their, or their child’s, experience in the program.