Evaluation of New Jersey After 3: Reaching and Engaging New Jersey's Youth through Afterschool Programs, 2005-2008
Author: Walking Eagle, Karen P.
Date: 2009-04-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Program Implementation,Program Effectiveness,Program Content,Nonprofit Organizations,Evaluation Methods,Program Evaluation,Youth Programs,After School Programs,Educational Improvement,Child Development,Child Health,Well Being,Student Characteristics,Attendance Patterns,Educational Quality,Surveys,Access to Education,Effect Size,At Risk Students,Gender Differences,Racial Differences,Poverty,Limited English Speaking,Special Education,Age Differences,Social Development,Student Development,Teacher Attitudes,Student Attitudes,Peer Relationship,Leadership Training,Parent Attitudes,Study Habits,Achievement Gains,Art Activities,Citizen Participation,Career Exploration,Daily Living Skills,Health Promotion,Physical Activity Level,Parent School Relationship

New Jersey After 3 (NJ After 3) is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to expand and improve afterschool opportunities for New Jersey's youth. Using both public and private resources, it supports a network of youth-service providers that deliver afterschool services based on NJ After 3's program model. Under an agreement with NJ After 3, Policy Studies Associates, Inc., has conducted a longitudinal evaluation of the initiative's operations and outcomes. The evaluation has assessed the extent to which NJ After 3 has expanded the availability of afterschool services, facilitated the delivery of high-quality program content, produced positive outcomes for youth, and created sustainable systems for funding and program quality. Evaluators collected data over three program years, beginning in 2005-06, which was the second year of NJ After 3 service delivery. Throughout this report, the authors present certain data collected in the evaluation's third year (program year 2007-08) and first year (program year 2005-06) in tables and graphs in order to illustrate important program changes, developments, and outcomes. In some instances, the changes are statistically significant. All statistically significant changes are highlighted within the exhibits, and they are also noted in the text of the report. In addition to highlighting changes between these years, the report describes factors and conditions that facilitated or impeded program effectiveness, and it recommends strategies that can improve program implementation and outcomes in the future. This report is organized in six main sections. The first section describes the evaluation design and processes. Section 2 describes program participants, the frequency with which they attended NJ After 3, and their year-to-year retention rates. This section also examines challenges associated with recruiting and retaining youth at targeted grade levels. Section 3 describes the non-academic (i.e., social, emotional, behavioral, and attitudinal) and academic outcomes of program participants. Section 4 describes the activities that are offered by NJ After 3. Section 5 highlights important program accomplishments and examines the challenges that impede program implementation and program quality. Section 6 outlines recommendations for increasing sustainability and securing the resources necessary to increase program reach and ensure program quality. Appended are: (1) Details of Data Used in Analyses of Participant Experiences; (2) Details of Data Used in Analyses of Participant Academic Engagement and Skills; and (3) Details of Data used in Program Observation Analyses. (Contains 4 footnotes and 36 exhibits.) [This report was prepared for New Jersey After 3.]