The first presenter, Joseph Durlak, provided an overview of findings from research reviews that examine the impact of participation in out-of-school time programs. He presented evidence that youth who participate in after-school programs benefit in three areas: school performance, feelings and attitudes, and indicators of behavioral adjustment. Furthermore, Durlak found that after-school programs that use evidence-based skill training approaches were successful in all outcome areas, while those programs that did not use these approaches did not deliver significant benefits to youth in any outcome area. After-school programs are most successful when they employ sequential, focused, explicit learning activities and active youth involvement.
Joe Durlak, Outcomes from After-School Programs: Findings from Research Reviews and Their Implications
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Joe Durlak and Roger Weissberg, The Impact of After-School Programs that Promote Personal and Social Skills
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A second keynote address was delivered by Karen Pittman of the Forum for Youth Investment. Pittman provided an update on a number of key policy issues concerning after-school education. She described the current landscape of public funding for after-school and gave an update on the implementation of California's Proposition 49 which provides $400 million in additional funds for after-school programs. Pittman pointed out that most public after-school funding is not intended to support the long-term ongoing operation of programs. As a result, after-school leaders face major challenges in supporting the sustainability of programs, even where they have demonstrated success. Pittman also challenged the field to develop clear definitions of program quality that apply to a wide-range of out-of-school time settings and experiences. Finally, Pittman discussed Expanded Learning Time (ELT), a school reform strategy that lengthens the traditional school day and/or year to increase student learning opportunities. Pittman described the growing popularity of ELT models as both a threat and opportunity for the after-school field. She argued that after-school leaders have an important role to play in advocating for ELT models that strike an appropriate balance between core academic instruction and enrichment and youth development opportunities.
The Forum for Youth Investment, Measuring Youth Program Quality: A Guide to Assessment Tools
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The Forum for Youth Investment, Building Quality Improvement Systems: Lessons from Three Emerging Efforts in the Youth Serving Sector
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The Forum for Youth Investment, Growing the Next Generation of Youth Professionals
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Forum for Youth Investment, Out-of-School Time Policy Commentary Series
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