Using this document, school leaders can engage after-school stakeholders in an informed and thoughtful process about developing, implementing and evaluating after-school programs at their schools. As the interest in after-school programs grows, so does the need for reliable information about what works. Although the field is relatively new, a growing number of studies indicate that after-school programs do make a positive difference in the lives of their participants. Not only do after-school programs provide a safe haven during the nonschool hours, students who consistently participate in quality after-school activities have better grades, greater student engagement in school, increased homework completion, reduced absenteeism and tardiness, greater parent involvement, increased civic engagement and reduced crime and violence in the nonschool hours. This article discusses several studies completed to evaluate after-school programs.