"Afterschool Programs: Making a Difference in America's Communities by Improving Academic Achievement, Keeping Kids Safe and Helping Working Families." The Overview is a compilation of data from recent studies showing that afterschool programs improve academic achievement, school attendance, engagement in learning, and social and behavioral outcomes, and help working families..." Afterschool Alliance, February 2008

Quality Time After School: What Instructors Can Do to Enhance Learning
Public/Private Ventures (2007)
"Based on our study of five Beacon Centers in Philadelphia, the report identifies activity characteristics that are linked to youth's sense of engagement and learning ...Building on lessons from past research, the report suggests a road map for program operators and policymakers to create engaging afterschool learning environments."

Series on Fostering the Adoption of Evidence-Based Practices in Out-Of-School Time Programs
Child Trends (June 2007)

• Part 1: What is Evidence-Based Practice
  " definition of evidence-based practice as it relates to out-of-school time programs, with resources to improve the implementation of evidence-based practices in out-of-school time programs"
• Part 2: A 10-Step Guide to Adopting and Sustaining Evidence-Based Practices in Out-Of-School Time Program A list of steps for out-of-school time practitioners to take in order to implement evidence-based practices in their programs

Getting Started with Market Research for Out-of-School Time Planning: A Resource Guide for Communities
Market Street Research (March 2007)
Funded by The Wallace Foundation
"This practical guide shows community leaders, policymakers and out-of-school-time practitioners how to use market research to make more informed decisions."

NEW Making the Case: A 2009 Fact Sheet on Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time. Included are sections on Benefits from Afterschool Program Participation, Continued Need for OST Opportunities, Health and Well-being, Students with Special Needs, ST for Middle and High School Youth, The OST Workforce and more. A 74 item bibliography is included. (National Institute on Out-of-School Time, March 2008).

America After 3 PM
Afterschool Alliance
Funded by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund

• Executive Summary
• Data by state

After School for All: A Call to Action from the Business Community
Corporate Voices for Working Families
The Missing Piece in Our Education System: Why America Needs High Quality After School Programs. Quality after school programs provide a unique venue in which young people can develop the range of skills they need to enter the 21st Century workplace

Helping Youth Succeed Through Out-of-School Time Programs
American Youth Policy Forum (January 2006)
Funded by The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
This report reviews the current research and literature on out-of-school time (OST) programs especially with regard to their effectiveness; explores the range of OST programs and activities as employed by the various youth-serving sectors; considers the untapped possibilities of OST programs to meet the needs of young people, including academic enhancement, career and college preparation, leadership development, and civic engagement; and provides policy guidance on how to support and sustain high quality OST programs as part of a system of supports for older youth.

Restoring the Balance between Academics and Civic Engagement in Public Schools
American Youth Policy Forum in partnership with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
"... questions the current focus on core academic subjects at the expense of an equally important role: preparing students to be engaged and effective citizens. The report is the product of collaborative discussion among policymakers, education practitioners, community groups, parents, and youth across the nation. The report offers a seven-step action plan to help schools refocus on the goal of creating both academically proficient and civically engaged students. The report also highlights several programs, including school-community partnerships that promote both quality academics and civic engagement."

The Growth in After-School Programs and Their Impact
Brookings Institution (February 2003)
"Interest in afterschool programs has increased dramatically in recent years. Yet little is known about the effectiveness of these programs and whether they are a good use of taxpayer dollars. This paper reviews the growth of these programs, the reasons for their growth, and what they hope to accomplish. It also addresses what we know about what works, the costs of the programs, and the implications for policy.

The paper concludes that much of the evidence on these programs is sparse and not very good. However, based on a review of 10 studies that used a relatively rigorous methodology to measure impact on a variety of outcomes such as drug and alcohol use, academic skills, or violence, Hollister concludes that there have been some effective programs."

Parental After-School Stress and Job Disruptions
The Community, Families & Work Program, Brandeis University (2004)
Funded by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Employees spend the equivalent of 8 days per year 'checking in' with the youngsters when they return home from school.

The following sites have a longer list of publications from their funded projects.

The Wallace Foundation (Knowledge Center)
"... offers credible, useful knowledge that can help policymakers, practitioners, researchers and concerned citizens make progress in the fields in which they work. It is at the core of Wallace’s effort to share ideas and practices that can help organizations expand opportunities for people. Click on any topic to view or download a variety of documents, such as national surveys, summaries of field knowledge, practical guides, and profiles of Wallace partners."

Child Trends (Research Connections)