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Scaling up evidence-based programs is not easy, and it is something that program developers and distributors approach in many different ways. This brief from ChildTrends reviews the best practices for the scale up of effective programs from across the literature, identifying recommendations for funders, communities, and program providers. It also describes the experiences of several effective programs that are at varying levels of scale across the country and internationally.

In afterschool, great leaders often rise from within the ranks-in part because of inspirational leadership at all levels. Creating an engaged and empowered atmosphere among team members can lead to improved retention, attendance, accuracy, productivity, safety, profitability, and a variety of other measurable indicators of success. This blog post from the National AfterSchool Association outlines steps leaders can take to create this kind of atmosphere, enabling staff members to reach their leadership potential.

Over the last decade, there has been a shift in the way many cities are approaching out-of-school time, moving from independent, isolated programming and funding to coordinated, citywide systems. This American Youth Policy Forum webinar recording provides an overview of the cornerstone elements of an afterschool system and showcases the system-building work in three communities and their approaches to developing citywide afterschool systems. The webinar also explores opportunities for sustainability and several emerging issues.

What does the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) mean for afterschool and summer learning program providers? Hosted by the Afterschool Alliance, this overview webinar outlines what the new law says regarding funding and policy for afterschool and summer learning programs. These include the 21st CCLC initiative, STEM afterschool provisions, full service community schools, or other programs. This introductory webinar was the first in a series of five. Future sessions will go into depth on a variety of programs and topics in ESSA relevant to afterschool programs and providers.

It may be cold outside right now, but your summer learning program will be starting before you know it. The Department of Education’s You for Youth web portal has several summer learning resources for expanded learning practitioners. These include fact sheets on the importance of summer learning (in English, Spanish, and French), strategies for engaging community members, family members, and students of all ages, and a range of activities.

Published by America’s Promise Alliance, this white paper illustrates how national service is making a positive impact on young people and closing the graduation gap-from early literacy through high school graduation and beyond. The authors of this paper reviewed numerous evaluation reports, policy papers, academic journal articles, and program summaries related to the contributions that AmeriCorps, and national service more generally, have made and can make to close the nation’s graduation gap. In addition to having gathered promising practices, this paper offers recommendations to leverage and continue effective programs that work.

A steady stream of afterschool evaluations are showing important gains for children, not only in terms of academic achievement but also in regard to safety, discipline, attendance, and avoidance of risky behaviors. This updated evaluations “backgrounder”-a summary of formal evaluations of afterschool programs-from the Afterschool Alliance includes new research that demonstrates the impact of afterschool programs on academic outcomes, student behavior, and parental concerns about children’s safety. Afterschool practitioners can use this resource to illustrate the effectiveness of quality afterschool programs to stakeholders.

Created by the New York State Afterschool Network, the online Quality Self-Assessment Tool is organized around 10 essential elements of an effective afterschool program, all of which come from evidenced-based practice: environment and climate, administration and organization, relationships, staffing and professional development, programming and activities, linkages between day and afterschool, youth participation and engagement, parent, family, and community partnerships, program sustainability and growth, and measuring outcomes and evaluation. Each element contains a list of quality indicators that are rated on a performance level from 1 to 4. There are also examples of what a program might look like at each performance level for all indicators.

Quality is on the forefront of afterschool programs. Afterschool leaders can play an important role in supporting staff as they grow the capacity to recognize and incorporate quality into their programs. This blog post from the National AfterSchool Association lists 10 simple actions that expanded learning leaders can take to coach their staff toward youth program quality.

Published by America’s Promise Alliance, Expanded Learning: Expanded Opportunity profiles four communities using out-of-school time to boost equity, academics for students in low-income neighborhoods, and low-performing schools. The report highlights the importance and challenges of topics like community collaboration, accurately assessing progress, student voice, and non-academic, or “soft,” skills.