ERIC Number: EJ1070820
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0044-118X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
What Works after School? The Relationship between After-School Program Quality, Program Attendance, and Academic Outcomes
Leos-Urbel, Jacob
Youth & Society, v47 n5 p684-706 Sep 2015
This article examines the relationship between after-school program quality, program attendance, and academic outcomes for a sample of low-income after-school program participants. Regression and hierarchical linear modeling analyses use a unique longitudinal data set including 29 after-school programs that served 5,108 students in Grades 4 to 8 over 2 years. Program quality measures, based on activity observations, include supportive environment, opportunities for purposeful engagement, and structured interactions. Findings suggest that middle school students attend programs with greater purposeful engagement less often, while attendance for younger students is less sensitive to program quality. Greater purposeful engagement is associated with lower test scores for elementary and middle school students. In contrast, a more supportive environment and greater opportunities for structured interactions relate to improvements in test scores. Findings are discussed in light of ongoing policy debate regarding the proper focus of after-school programs and concerns about poor program attendance.
Descriptors: After School Programs, Program Effectiveness, Attendance, Academic Achievement, Regression (Statistics), Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Longitudinal Studies, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Learner Engagement, Educational Environment, Middle School Students, Elementary School Students, Age Differences, Scores, Educational Policy, Observation, Factor Analysis, Interaction, Interpersonal Relationship, Activities, Program Content
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Elementary Education; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 8; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305B080019
Author Affiliations: N/A