Support will continue for after-school programs if they improve their quality by focusing on management, staffing, curriculum, and evaluation, says a report from the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing.
Based at the University of California, Los Angeles, the center, known as CRESST, draws on more than two decades of evaluations it has conducted on out-of-school-time programs.
The report says key components of high-quality after-school programs include: clearly defined program goals and funding that aligns with them; strong, experienced leadership; and staff members who are able to motivate students and stay with the program for a while.
It also helps to have programs that align with the school day yet also offer different and engaging learning opportunities, the report says.
