Although social-emotional learning is associated with long-term success in school and careers, it is often a missing link in U.S. public education. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the need for social-emotional supports for children. In this time of crisis, educators have also sought new ways to make connections and reimagined how students…

Background: After-school programs (ASPs) have the potential to contribute to student physical activity (PA), but there is limited empirical evidence to guide program development and implementation. Methods: We used pedometry to assess the overall effectiveness of an elementary school ASP running program relative to national and state PA…

In 2013-2016 we designed and implemented Wikid Grrls, a 10-week after-school workshop series to teach online skills to middle school girls in U.S. schools. We interviewed and surveyed 80 participants before and after the workshops. Girls' online skills and confidence in them increased measurably for the duration of the workshop series.…

Due to changing federal and state policy as well as increased community concerns about pollinators, assisting clients interested in pollinator health is taking more Extension agent time and resources. In addition, many gardeners tend to be beginners in need of support to recognize best management practices related to pollinating and beneficial…

For many youth, afterschool programs positively fill the time between school and home. Quality out-of-school time (OST) programs clearly can have beneficial social and academic effects on youth (Durlak, Weissberg, & Pachan, 2010; Eccles, Barber, Stone, & Hunt, 2003; Vandell et al., 2005). However, these outcomes are not guaranteed (Chen…

In most modern countries, much learning in childhood and adolescence takes place outside of regular school hours. That holds for community-based programs -- like afterschool programs -- as well as for private offerings -- like private tutoring. In the international research literature, this field of learning opportunity is called extended…

Learning does not end at 3 p.m. or in June, and neither should data-driven support for students. Communities across the country are recognizing out-of-school time (OST) programs as key partners to provide students not only important enrichment and academic services but also targeted supports and expanded learning opportunities. This policy brief…

This ethnographic case study explores the experiences of the Rolling Hills High (RHH) after-school Film Club as they engaged with film both as consumers and creators. Created by the students of RHH, the Film Club was a space in which they could explore the compositional process outside of academic pressures. Current educational research focused on…

Service-learning opportunities provide students with valuable professional experience beyond training and practical skills. In a pilot study of Criminal Justice students enrolled in an undergraduate Homeland Security class, student volunteers report opportunities for practicing leadership at an after-school program. Responses were also compared to…

This study identified subgroups of elementary students based on similar patterns of participation in four different types of extended education in Korea. The study also investigated relationships between student patterns of extended education participation and their various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, including residential…

There are two, related types of college readiness: (a) cognitive--students' test scores and grades and (b) noncognitive--students' academic mind-sets, behaviors, and motivation. This study uses an ethnographic approach to examine how an afterschool program for Latina/o high school youth fosters noncognitive factors of college readiness. Based on…

Recently, the literature has repeatedly reported an interesting decrease in science and technology (S&T) among youngsters, and a drop of students choosing professions related to these knowledge areas. This study pursued to assess the interest of primary and secondary pupils in specific fields of S&T and to relate this interest to their…

Too many of today's children spend too much time indoors, often interacting with screens. They don't get enough physical exercise. Their learning about nature comes from books and teachers rather than from firsthand exploration of natural phenomena. These issues affect most modern American children, but they are particularly prominent among…

Manding for preferred items and activities is a critical skill for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little research has evaluated procedures to teach children with ASD to mand with their peers. This study evaluated the effects of a teaching package involving least-to-most prompting to increase peer-directed vocal…

In this arts-based inquiry, we studied how 50 teacher candidates at seven after-school program sites used the arts, along with traditional written reflections, to examine their teaching beliefs and represent their field experiences. Data were collected throughout the 6-week course semester and analyzed using a three-stage process of thematic…