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Evaluation of After School Programs
Denise Huang
CRESST Conference
September 8th, 2005
What is Evaluation Research?
Evaluation research is the systematic application of social research methods to the assessment of social intervention programs.
It draws upon the concepts and techniques of several disciplines, and is useful at every stage of the programs.
Three Major Focus of Evaluation Research:
Analysis related to the conceptualization and design of interventions
Monitoring of program implementation
Assessment of program effectiveness and efficiency
For Efficient EvaluationDifferent evaluation strategies are called for at
different stages in the life of programs:
In the planning stages of social intervention programs, evaluation focuses on the assessing the extent and severity of the problems requiring intervention, and design programs to alleviate the problems.
In the conduct of new and on-going programs, evaluations help to determine the degree to which the programs are effective.
After the program has been implemented for sufficient time, impact assessments estimate the effects of intervention. For accountability purposes, evaluations consider costs in relation to benefits and compare an intervention’s cost effectiveness.
Strategies for Impact Assessment
Impact assessments are undertaken to determine whether a program has its intended effects
Underlying all impact assessment is the experimental model of comparison
Assessments may make use of quantitative or qualitative data.
Evaluating after school programs: An LA’s BEST Example
The ever evolving role of after school programs:
• Safe haven
• Enrichment activities
• Healthy life style
• Improve academic achievement
LA’BEST: Better Educated students for Tomorrow
• Serving 23,000 students over 133 school sites (147)
• Focus on developing the “whole” child
• Education, enrichment,& recreation
• Research-based curricula
• Community resources
Indicators for program effectiveness
• Student attendance
• Performance measures (achievement tests, homework completion, classroom grades, language re-designation, school retention, future aspirations, etc.)
• Non-cognitive measures (safety, attitudes towards school, relationships with adults, social competence, conflict resolution skills, self-esteem, and self-efficacy etc.)
• Parent involvement
• Long-term effects (drop out rate, life satisfaction, etc)
Challenges in evaluating after school programs
Some of the main concerns:
• Self-selected sample
• Consent forms
• Comparison groups
• High transient rate
• Archive data-record keeping
Encouraging notes
• Dedicated staff
• Happy kids
• Satisfied parents
• Satisfied teachers
• Builds resiliency
Summary of Findings: Academic Performance
Overall LA’s BEST students either maintained or improved their SAT-9 /CAT-6 or CST performances
Overall there is not a difference in academic performance between LA’s BEST and non-LA’s BEST participants
Pre-post analyses indicates that students improved their school attendance after participating in LA’s BEST
Summary of Findings: Social Development
concerns about safety
conflict resolution
academic self-efficacy
study habits
family involvement
future aspirations
Who Benefited Most :
LEP students
Female students
Students who attended more regularly
Students who scored low initially on attitudinal surveys (self-efficacy, work habits, conflict resolution skills)
Students with low performance in test scores
Summary of Findings: Long-term effects
Student and Parent surveys responses between the two groups were very similar regarding:
academic competence
social competence
behavioral indices
future orientations
LA’s BEST parents exhibit a higher degree of parental involvement in school and had higher academic expectations for their children than non-LA’s BEST parents
Former Students’ Perceptions of Positive Effects
Maintain friendships
Former LA’s BEST students
Learn about importance of
school
Develop social and academic
skills
Receive opportunities for mentoring
Parents’ Perceptions of Positive Effects on Child
Parents of former LA’s BEST
students
Improved grades
Improved social skills
Think about college
Implications of the Effects of LA’s BEST After School Program
• Impact of LA’s BEST not limited to academic achievement
• Contributes to improvement in school attendance and social skills, and impacts educational aspirations
• Provides a safety net for students who might otherwise fall through cracks
• Initial findings on drop out rates
Next steps
DOJ long-term effect study
National Partnership study to provide web-based resources to after school programs