By age 18, students have spent on average 85 percent of their waking hours outside of school. Their use of that time--constructive or not--helps direct their futures. In afterschool and summer programs, young people explore new interests, develop new skill sets, and create lasting relationships with peers and caring adults that shape who they are,…

School programs are evolving, and school district offerings provide more to students and families than simply academic instruction. This study asked parents to rate the importance and performance of various school programs that support student success and provide aspirational programming that guide student futures. Over one thousand parents were…

Researchers have documented positive associations among youth program quality and academic outcomes, primarily based on cross-sectional data. This study examined longitudinal associations among youth-reported program experiences and academic expectations, self-reported grades, and perceived value of school using data from the national evaluation…

This quantitative, causal-comparative study aims to examine the academic performance of all third-grade students who participated in after-school tutoring from English Language Arts (ELA) in comparison to those who did not, using the results from the 2022-2023 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program English Language Arts (MAAP ELA) assessment. The…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how the organizational culture of the after-school program within the Inn Dwelling Comprehensive Youth Initiative (IDCYI) after-school program provided by the Inn Dwelling organization, which serves two communities in Philadelphia, PA influences student academic achievement. The sample…

This study was an action research analysis of a competitive, after-school robotics program in the Woodland Hills School District. A longitudinal quantitative analysis was used to measure the effects of the after-school program on academic achievement and student engagement in school. Grade Point Average was measured before the program began and…

This fact sheet synthesizes research findings and survey results from parents and program providers to illustrate how afterschool programs are accelerating students' academic growth, supporting their well-being, and helping working families. Additionally, the fact sheet highlights the overwhelming support afterschool programs have from voters…

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a one-to-one intensive tutoring program in English and Mathematics on improving English learners' test scores on standardized assessments like the Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). The program of interest in this study is called The Rising Stars Program and is designed based on…

This narrative study investigated the experiences of three Hispanic students in South Texas who participated in after-school robotics programs in secondary school and discover the role these experiences had on their academic and life skills. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with one female participant and two male…

Strong, caring relationships with adult and peer mentors have long played a crucial role in helping young people thrive academically and overcome challenges they face while at school and at key points in their educational journey. These mentoring relationships for students can be provided at school through volunteer programs embedded in the school…

This study utilized a pretest posttest design to examine the impact afterschool activities had on students in middle school. Survey and focus group data were used to access participants' behavior, achievement and attendance in while participating in afterschool programs. Findings from the study concluded that student's participation in afterschool…

This dissertation attempts to create an improved collaborative effort between in-school and after-school educators. The purpose of this study is to examine the current process by which after-school educational programs collaborate with in-school leaders to enhance students' academic achievement. To address this challenge, this research study will;…

Aquaponics systems model aquaculture and hydroponics systems for food production. Aquponics allow cycle of nutrients as well as wastes and offers a sustainable option to the use of environmental resources. Aquaponics systems are also considered in education as a teaching tool which can be implemented into different grade levels. It's possible to…

The present research involved two studies that investigated the creativity development of Chinese children and young adolescents (9-14 years old). It was hypothesized that family socio-economic status (SES), perceived parenting (e.g., parental autonomy support, involvement, and overcontrol), and after-school activities contribute to the…

The purpose of this study was to determine to what degree significant academic gains occurred in English/language arts and mathematics achievement for students who attended the after-school program compared to the students who did not participate in the after-school program. This study was significant in that it examined the impact of structured…