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Rigorous research for high-quality afterschool programs. Download and peruse the resources below to help support and provide best practices in afterschool program delivery.
Summer Learning Loss Research Summer learning loss is a well-documented phenomenon (Allington and McGill-Franzen 2003; Bracey 2002; Heyns 1987; Luftig 2003; Malach and Rutter 2003) and many studies have shown that summer learning loss disproportionately affects disadvantaged students (Cooper et al. 1996; Alexander, Entwisle, and Olson 2007), students who are eligible to participate in the Texas ACE program.
Many researchers suggest that summer learning loss differentially impacts economically disadvantaged students because they are afforded less educational/experiential opportunities during the summer (Cooper et al. 1996). In addition, because summer learning loss accumulates over time (Cooper et al. 1996), it has been hypothesized as contributing to the persistent achievement gap between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students (Alexander, Entwisle, and Olson 2007; Cooper et al. 1996).
In addition to supporting the Texas ACE program to provide students more educational and experiential opportunities in the summer, the Regional Educational Laboratory – Southwest at Edvance is working on a randomized controlled-trial study to test a summer reading intervention which provides students with free books during the summer that are aligned with their interests and are at their reading level. Results from the study are forthcoming.
Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement (2009) What Works Clearinghouse Out-of-school time programs can enhance academic achievement by helping students learn outside the classroom. The five recommendations in this guide are intended to help district and school administrators, out-of-school program providers, and educators design out-of-school time programs that will increase learning for students. The guide also describes the research supporting each recommendation, how to carry out each recommendation, and how to address roadblocks that might arise in implementing them. Afterschool Programs in the 21st Century: Their Potential and What it Takes to Achieve It (2008), Harvard Family Research Project This issue brief highlights 10 years of findings from the most rigorous research in afterschool. Even thought it summarizes research, the writing is engaging and supported by real examples of afterschool programs. The critical factors to achieve successful outcomes (beginning on page 5) should be highlighted. These include: providing access to sustained participation in programs, providing quality programming, and cultivating strong partnerships.
Snapshots of Sustainability: Profiles of Successful Strategies for Financing Out-of-School Time Programs (2007), The Finance Project This report describes strategies and lessons learned for sustaining afterschool programs. The guide highlights the need for preparing for sustainability early and demonstrating and communicating results as a key strategy to garner support. The piece also profiles a set of 6 (including Fort Worth Afterschool Program) 21st CCLC programs that have sustained and the key strategies which were implemented. This page indicates that the resource is available for $20, but the PDF download is free of charge. Essential Elements of Quality After-School Programs (2006), National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Place an emphasis on the “Element Descriptions”, pps. 21-37. Reviewing these elements will help you address the programmatic issues and provide some research-based ideas for including in your afterschool program plans. Beyond the Bell Start Up Guide (3rd Edition) (2005), Learning Point Associates This is a very user friendly step-by-step guide for an individual or small group of people interested in starting an afterschool program. The advice is universal and does not contradict any of the Texas 21st CCLC RFA requirements. The guide consists of 15 pages of planning guidelines and 17 tools to aid in reflective and collaborative planning. |
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