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After-School Programs

The likelihood of youth exposure to drug use and other criminal behavior increases dramatically in the hours after school ends. RAND research has shown that the availability of quality after-school activities can reduce participation in and victimization as a result of illicit activities, and can boost academic performance.

Research Brief

Kids Benefit from Voluntary Summer Learning Programs

Fourth graders who attended at least 20 days of summer learning programs benefited in mathematics and language arts achievement. When voluntary summer learning programs are effective, what factors are associated with success?

Sep 7, 2016
Report

Summer Learning Programs Benefit Low-Income Urban Students

Low-income students lose ground in the summer relative to their wealthier peers. High-quality voluntary summer learning programs can help disadvantaged students catch up and succeed in school, but consistent attendance is crucial.

Sep 7, 2016
Journal Article

Spreading the Word: A Process Evaluation of a Voluntary AOD Prevention Program

This paper summarizes efforts to evaluate process information for CHOICE, a voluntary after-school AOD prevention program for middle-school youth.

Apr 22, 2015
Research Brief

First Outcomes from the National Summer Learning Study

Five urban school districts are offering voluntary summer learning programs free of charge to struggling elementary students as part of a project to determine whether these kinds of programs improve low-income student outcomes.

Feb 13, 2015
News Release

Students Attending Summer Learning Programs Returned to School in the Fall with an Advantage in Math

Students who attended voluntary, school district-led summer learning programs in five urban areas began the academic year with stronger math skills than their peers who did not attend the programs.

Dec 16, 2014
Report

Students Who Attended Summer Learning Programs Gained an Advantage in Math

Summer learning loss disproportionately affects low-income students and therefore likely contributes to the achievement gap between these students and their higher-income peers. Students who attended voluntary, school district-led summer learning programs in five urban areas began the academic year with stronger math skills than their peers who did not attend.

Dec 16, 2014
Report

Early and School-Age Care in Santa Monica: Current System, Policy Options, and Recommendations: Executive Summary

In July 2012, the City of Santa Monica Human Services Division and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District contracted with the RAND Corporation to conduct an assessment of child care programs in Santa Monica.

Apr 25, 2014
Report

Early and School-Age Care in Santa Monica

Researchers examine how well Santa Monica's child care programs meet the needs of families, including child care and early education programs before kindergarten, as well as care for school-aged children, both during the school year and the summer.

Apr 25, 2014
Blog

Early Planning Key to Effective Summer Learning Programs

RAND education experts Jennifer McCombs and Catherine Augustine hosted a news media conference call to discuss the best steps school districts can take to provide the most effective and rewarding summer learning programs.

Aug 14, 2013
News Release

Early Planning Is One of Several Steps Crucial to Successful Summer Learning Programs

The most important steps school districts can take to implement an effective summer learning program are to begin planning at least six months in advance and to include both district and summer site leaders in the process.

Aug 13, 2013
Research Brief

How to Get the Most out of a Summer Learning Program

Summer learning programs may help close the achievement gap between low- and higher-income children if done well, but they are sometimes an afterthought or not offered at all, especially when education budgets are tight. Starting the planning process early, hiring the right teachers, and other best practices can help ensure success.

Aug 13, 2013
Report

Early Planning Is One of Several Steps Crucial to Successful Summer Learning Programs

The most important steps school districts can take to implement an effective summer learning program are to begin planning at least six months in advance and to include both district and summer site leaders in the process.

Aug 13, 2013
Report

Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Report

This annual report for the California Board of State and Community Corrections measures the success of Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act programs and initiatives for six state-mandated outcome measures and county-mandated supplemental measures.

Aug 12, 2013
Solution

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

RAND education experts conducted extensive literature reviews, examined summer program cost data, interviewed numerous providers of summer programs, and visited a diverse range of U.S. cities to interview summer learning leaders and observe summer learning directly.

Aug 10, 2013
Report

Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Report

The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2010-2011, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.

Sep 17, 2012
Brochure

Focusing on K-12 Education

In the area of K–12 education, RAND Education partners with policymakers, school systems, practitioners, and other stakeholders to help improve education outcomes and systems and to increase access and equity.

Sep 4, 2012
Blog

Can Summer Learning Programs Prevent Skill and Knowledge Loss?

When kids go on summer vacation, their knowledge and skills suffer, with their performance dropping off, on average, one month from where they were when they left school in the spring. Such losses do not affect all kids equally, having the greatest effect on low-income students.

Jun 21, 2012
News Release

Voluntary After-School Program Can Reduce Alcohol Use Among Middle School Children

If prevention researchers build programs with developmentally relevant content, and provide this content in an engaging, confidential, and non-judgmental way, it can help middle school-aged children avoid alcohol.

Feb 8, 2012
Report

Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Report

The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2009-2010, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.

Jan 24, 2012
Multimedia

Making Summer Count

RAND experts Catherine Augustine and Jennifer McCombs discuss the loss of knowledge and educational skills during summer, how summer programs can disrupt this loss, and how students who attend these programs perform better than peers who do not.

Dec 16, 2011

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RAND Topic:
After-School Programs

Research conducted by

RAND Education and Labor