Evaluate Your Afterschool Program

Afterschool

June 15, 2014

These six tip sheets offer an easy way to learn about using data to see what's working and what might need work in your programming.

Black, white and other children in a classroom looking at a board, in Boston

What’s in the tip sheets?

Data, smartly employed, can help afterschool decision-makers with everything from fairly allocating resources to improving afterschool program quality.

But what information is needed? How should it be collected? And what are the best ways to put gathered information to use? This set of easy-to-read tip sheets answers these questions and more. It gives city agencies, afterschool program providers, intermediary organizations, and others a jump-start on making the most of data in afterschool programming.

Introduction

Learn how Linda Lanier, executive director of the Children's Commission in Jacksonville, Fla., used a data-rich community map to stave off severe budget cuts to her programs.

Made to Measure: Using Data to Improve Accountability

Here's what to know about monitoring systemwide performance.

'X' Marks the Spot: Using Data to Map Needs and Supply

Ever wonder why that fast-food chain built another outlet only a couple miles from an existing one?

From Good to Great: Using Data to Assess and Improve Quality

The issue of program quality – how to define it, evaluate it and, ultimately, improve it – has taken center stage even as many communities face cuts to out-of-school time (OST) funding.

All in Favor: Using Data in Advocacy Work

A politician loves a photo-op with students who are thriving in an after-school program in his district. What does his staff love?

FairShare: Data-Sharing Strategies that Work

Sharing data between out-of-school time (OST) programs and schools is critical to supporting children's learning and development, but it's one of the trickiest issues to navigate.