the impact of after-school programs that seek to promote personal and social skills joseph a....

The Impact of After-School Programs That Seek to Promote

Personal and Social Skills Joseph A. Durlak, Loyola University Chicago

Roger P. Weissberg, University of Illinois Chicago & theCollaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional

Learning (CASEL)

Acknowledgements: W.T. Grant Foundation (Grant #200050496)

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Focus of the Review

• Comprehensive review of current knowledge• 66 After-school Programs with data at post• Program Goals: promoting personal/social skills • Included studies:

– Control group present– Out of school hours– Operate during the school year


Why This Review is Important

• Prior reviews not focused on personal/social skills

• Large number of programs evaluated

• This is new and up-to-date information

• 60% of program reports appeared > 2000


Research Questions

• What types of outcomes can after-school programs foster in youth?

• Can we identify the program features that lead to better youth outcomes?


• Overall, programs are

• Youth benefit in three areas– School performance– Feelings and attitudes– Behavioral adjustment

Findings

effective


Outcomes and Findings Positive Results for:

• School performance– Academic achievement test scores– School grades– School attendance

• Feelings and attitudes– Self-perceptions – School bonding

• Behavioral adjustment– Positive social behaviors– Problem behaviors– Drug use


Which programs are effective?

• Programs that used evidence-based skill training approaches were successful in all outcome areas

• Programs that did not use these approaches did not deliver significant benefits to youth in any outcome area


Effective Programs are S.A.F.E.

• Sequential:

• Active:

• Focused:

• Explicit:

sequenced activities to achieve skills

interactive forms of learning

emphasis on personal or social skills

targeting of specific skills


Conclusions and Recommendations

• Programs can be effective in multiple ways

• Both program content and process are important for success

• It is not only WHAT YOU DO, but also HOW YOU DO IT that counts– program quality


Policy Implications

• Findings should reassure those questioning the value of after-school programs

• Important to consider the range of possible program benefits

• Program quality is critical to success • Programs should be accountable for ongoing

assessment & continual improvement of services


Value-Added Benefits

Outcome area Outcome typeValue added

benefit

Feelings and attitudes

Child self-perceptions

School bonding

43%

30%




benefit

Behavioral adjustment

Positive social behaviors

Problem behaviors

Drug use

35%

30%

25%




benefit

School Performance

Academic Achievement test scores

School grades

37%

27%


Additional Information

• For more information, contact [email protected]

• A full report of the findings will be available

• at http://www.casel.org

the impact of after-school programs that seek to promote personal and social skills joseph a....

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