How to Implement a Successful Afterschool Program in Your District

Implementing afterschool programming has long been seen as an effective way for school districts to support their students academically, socially and even recreationally. However, with an unprecedented amount of funding available to schools thanks to the Emergency and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), a new emphasis has been placed on using these resources on quality out-of-school time (OST) programs.

Last summer, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said as much while announcing the Engage Every Student Initiative — a call to action for schools across the country to use ESSER funds to support summer learning and afterschool programs.

“Quality out-of-school time programs have always supported students' academic, social, and emotional growth, but as we recover from the pandemic, these opportunities have never mattered more," said Cardona in a press release. “We need bold action, especially for low-income students and students of color who have historically struggled to access quality afterschool programs and rich summer learning experiences.”

Bringing the Right Afterschool Program to Your District

With so many afterschool programing options available to districts, selecting one that best meets your needs can be an overwhelming process. To help, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the nation’s leading source for rigorous, independent education research, evaluation and statistics, has developed a five-step process to help schools implement an effective OST program.

Step 1: Identify Local Needs and Assets

IES recommends first identifying the needs of your students and community. This includes reviewing available assessment data to identify students’ greatest needs. It is also important to identify community stakeholders, including but not limited to students and their families, child advocacy and educational organizations, and community leaders, and to consider how they might affect your overall strategy. Finally, your district should list and prioritize outcomes your afterschool program should achieve, from academic improvements to increased engagement.

Step 2: Select Relevant, Evidence-Based Interventions

When possible, IES suggests selecting OST partners that use evidence-based practices and have a proven track record of success. Best practices include:

• Aligning the program academically with the school day
• Maximizing student participation and attendance
• Adapting instruction to individual and small group needs
• Providing engaging learning experiences
• Assessing program performance and the use of results to improve the quality of the program

Additionally, IES recommends schools gain a thorough understanding of a program’s infrastructure, content and implementation requirements, and ensure that these items align with respected OST recommendations.

Step 3: Plan for Implementation

To track the effectiveness of a program, IES advises schools use a logic model that shows the relationships between inputs, activities and the outcomes of each. Once this is created, you should develop detailed implementation plans, ensure you have enough time for staff recruitment and training, as well as time to recruit participants, and then create plans for improvement, data collection and evaluation.

Step 4: Implement Your Program

As you run your program, it might be helpful to ask the following questions:

• Do you have regular touchpoints with all the relevant stakeholders?
• Do you have ways to monitor progress?
• Do you have plans in place for unforeseen challenges?

Throughout your program, be sure to collect data that can help you track the metrics you established in Step 3. Using formative and summative assessments also can help you evaluate student and staff mindsets throughout the duration of the program.

Step 5: Examine Program Outcomes and Use Evidence to Improve

While your program is still ongoing, IES believes it is important to examine outcomes and data at regular intervals to refine and report progress to your stakeholders. While reviewing the data, it might be helpful to ask the following questions:

• How frequently will we review?
• With whom?
• What questions are we trying to answer?
• What will we do with what we learn?

Looking For a Quality, Customizable Afterschool Program to Meet Your School’s Needs?

With over 30 years of experience developing innovative invention education curricula, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® is a trusted partner to school districts across the country. Contact us today to speak with one of our invention education specialists who can help you customize a program that fits your school’s unique needs.