Advancing Achievement: Findings from an Independent Evaluation of a Major After-school Initiative

Author: Arbreton, A., Sheldon, J., Bradshaw, M., Goldsmith, J., Jucovy, L., Pepper, S.
Publisher: Public/Private Ventures
Publication Date: 2008, February
Publication City: Philadelphia
Publication State: PA

Resources

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• Advancing Achievement: Findings from an Independent Evaluation of a Major After-school Initiative(.pdf 0.8MB)
  

Description (written by WestEd)

This report presents findings of a study of the Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning (CORAL) after-school program for third to fifth grade students in five major California cities. The report maintains, “Costs for providing CORAL’s combined academic and enrichment program (just under an estimated $20 per day for each child in attendance) were similar to costs of other after-school programming.” (p. viii) Implications for programs, research, and policy include the following:

• Student gains in literacy are likely the product of the high-quality literacy programming.


• Program staff’s access to crucial data on program quality and practices and the ways in which they were able to use that information for program improvement were critical components of their success.


• English learners were grouped with native speakers and achieved academic gains commensurate with those of their English-proficient peers.

The literacy gains and increased engagement in learning of the students in the program indicate a high-quality program.