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A new RAND publication reviews the outcomes and benefits of out-of-school time programs. The report presents evidence suggesting that out-of-school-time programs can generate three kinds of benefits: academic gains, enriching experiences, and safety and homework help. Benefits depend on the type of programming offered and how long it is offered. The report also includes recommendations on ways afterschool programs can achieve their desired outcomes.

The federal 21st CCLC program provides key funding for afterschool programs. When other sources of funding become necessary, do you know where to look to augment your 21st CCLC grant? This blog post by American Youth Policy Forum provides a list of ways providers may wish to seek additional funding for programming. In using this list as a guide, 21st CCLC grantees will want to make sure that they are supplementing, and not supplanting, programming. Contact your ISBE grant consultant to ensure any additional funds procured are used within the boundaries of your grant.

It’s never too early for afterschool leaders to begin thinking about sustainability for their program.  This article in AfterSchool Today, the magazine of the National AfterSchool Association, highlights some key considerations that go into sustainability planning. The ideas are drawn from the Wallace Foundation report Growing Together, Learning Together: What Cities Have Discovered About Building Afterschool Systems.

How can afterschool systems best leverage data to build, grow, and sustain their efforts? Hosted by the American Youth Policy Forum and Afterschool Alliance, this webinar recording includes a discussion among afterschool system leaders on how they are using program data to support the growth and development of their systems.

This report from the Wallace Foundation takes a look at the priorities of grantmakers that support afterschool or other expanded learning efforts. It also examines the perspectives of key field leaders, including heads of youth-serving nonprofits and researchers. A survey finds that “improved academic achievement” and “increased student engagement” are the most common outcomes funders hope to see from their afterschool/expanded learning giving.