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Afterschool in Action: Innovative Afterschool Programs Supporting Middle School Youth (2013)
The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation are proud to celebrate a fifth round of the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards. For the past five years, we have collaborated to highlight the work of quality afterschool programs that support children, families and communities across the nation. This compendium is a compilation of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. This series explores afterschool and: arts enrichment, parent engagement, school improvement efforts and digital learning. The compendium also includes in-depth profiles of the 2012 Afterschool Innovator Award winners, as well as highlights from 2008-2011 award winners.
Afterschool programs have been operating for decades in communities across the country, and federal investment in afterschool has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s. However, even more investment in the field of afterschool, which includes before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs, is needed to keep up with the growing demand. Parents and voters overwhelmingly support afterschool and want to see more afterschool opportunities for children and increased funding for programs. As public demand and need for afterschool have grown, so too has the demand for accountability.
Uncertain Times 2012: Afterschool Programs Still Struggling in Today's Economy
Uncertain Times 2012, the third in the Uncertain Times series, assesses the impact of economic conditions on afterschool programs. Based on 1,012 survey responses, Uncertain Times 2012-Afterschool Programs Still Struggling in Today's Economy, finds that afterschool programs are struggling to meet the needs of children and families in their communities, as they face shrinking resources and dismal prospects for new support. Hardest hit are programs serving disadvantaged communitiesthe very population that has the most to gain from afterschool and summer programs.
MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards
With support from MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance is proud to present this compendium, containing a series of four Issue Briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth, schools and communities, and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. The four briefs address: aligning afterschool with the regular school day; bullying prevention; service learning; and promoting literacy. The compendium also includes profiles of successful programs and a discussion of the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards
The 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides
The 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides examine Growth in Afterschool Programs, Developments in State Afterschool Policy and Funding, and Advancements in Afterschool Leadership. In addition, the Consumer Guide component offers resources on how to find the best afterschool options in the state and provides a section on "What You Can Do to Support Afterschool" to show new afterschool advocates how they can get involved.
STEM Learning in Afterschool: An Analysis of Impact and Outcomes (September 2011)
This report presents an analysis of evaluation data from afterschool STEM programs around the country. A review of the evaluation reports shows that high-quality STEM afterschool programs yields STEM-specific benefits such as improved attitudes towards STEM fields and careers, increased STEM knowledge and skills, and higher likelihood of graduation and pursuing a STEM career. The report demonstrates that afterschool programs are playing a key role in engaging children and youth from diverse communities in STEM fields and careers.
Afterschool Innovations in Brief: Engaging Middle School Youth (2011)
With support from MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance is proud to present this series of four Issue Briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth, schools and communities, and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. The four briefs address: the multiple benefits of afterschool for middle school youth; Science, Technology, Math and Engineering (STEM); health and wellness for pre-teens and teens; and pathways to higher education and careers.
A steady stream of afterschool evaluations are showing important gains for children, not only in terms of academic achievement but also in terms of safety, discipline, attendance and avoidance of risky behaviors. In addition, researchers have found that afterschool programs encourage increased parental involvement, an important building block for student success. This updated evaluations backgrounder focuses on the impact of afterschool programs on academic outcomes, student behavior and parental concerns about children's safety.
Roadmap to Afterschool for All (2009)
With the Harvard School of Public Health and support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Afterschool Alliance initiated the Roadmap to Afterschool for All a scientific study that for the first time assesses the current investment in afterschool programs from the public sector, parents, foundations and businesses, and estimates the additional investment needed from each sector to provide quality afterschool programs for all children. The research shows that parents are paying the lions share of afterschool costs, even among programs serving high poverty children, and that funding of all types is insufficient.
Afterschool Innovations in Brief: Focusing on Older Youth (2009)
With support from MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance has published this compilation of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing older youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues.
Afterschool and Summer Programs: Committed Partners in STEM Education (October 2011)
With generous support from the Noyce Foundation, three of the nation's leading afterschool and summer learning organizations are joining forces in a collaborative effort to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning during the out-of-school hours.
A 2005 report on how states are addressing the federal failure to fully fund afterschool programs.
The past year presented the afterschool community with many obstacles, most notably the economic crises, but also many opportunities for growth. The year 2008 saw the celebration of ten years of 21st CCLC, one of the largest Lights On Afterschool rallies ever was held, and the Afterschool Alliance published the stories of so many whose lives have been transformed by afterschool in America's Afterschool Storybook.
Afterschool Innovations in Brief
With support from MetLife Foundation, the Afterschool Alliance has published "Afterschool Innovations in Brief," a compilation of four issue briefs examining critical issues facing children, schools and communities, and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. (May 2008)
In 2007, funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers increased for the first time since 2002. New research and polls show enduring and far-reaching support. More community leaders and policy makers are pledging their support for afterschool, and new dedicated state level funding streams are cropping up across the country. These positive developments, and more, as well as critical challenges that remain, are discussed in "2007 Afterschool Year in Review." (January 2008)
