After School Matters recognizes and values the importance of participating in, and assessing the results of, third-party research and evaluation. The findings serve as critical tools that inform our ability to continually improve the quality of our programs and efforts to support sustainable growth in the number of teens we serve.

In June, Northwestern University published an evaluation of After School Matters. Led by School of Education professor Barton Hirsch, this study found some significant gains for teens in our programs, including:

• Youth development: higher self-regulation and less problem behavior – specifically, selling drugs and participating in gang activity.
• A stronger sense of connection to school, as well as higher perceived value of school and academics.

Additionally, After School Matters programs were found to have stronger design features than alternative structured activities for teens—such features include teaching specific skills, giving youth a choice in activities and giving them feedback on how to improve their work.

Chicago Allies for Youth Success, a partnership of organizations that share a vision for increasing participation in quality expanded learning opportunities citywide, conducted a descriptive analysis comparing academic indicators for 10,850 After School Matters teens with 89,363 Chicago Public High School teens during school year 2010-2011. The comparison found that:

• After School Matters teens are more likely to be present in and graduate from school. On average, After School Matters teens were in school 4.68 more days than and graduated at a slightly higher rate than CPS teens who are not in After School Matters programs.
• Teens who participate the most in After School Matters are among the most likely to be present in school. On average, After School Matters teens who participated in three or more program cycles were in school 11.8 more days than CPS teens.
• Significant gains were noted among African American and Hispanic teens. On average, After School Matters African American teens were in school 12.56 more days, and Hispanic teens were in school 7.77 more days than their CPS counterparts.
• After School Matters teens are more likely to enroll in college. Chicago Allies for Youth Success also analyzed class of 2010 CPS graduates to examine college enrollment rates. Of the graduating seniors that were analyzed, 64.1% of After School Matters participants enrolled in college for the fall of 2010, whereas 54.2% of CPS graduates who did not participate enrolled in college. And teens who participated in three After School Matters program cycles were 18% more likely to enroll in college than their CPS counterparts.

In August, After School Matters surveyed 180 alumni who participated in the program during the past 20 years. Eighty percent of respondents are either currently enrolled in college or have earned a college degree. More than 88 percent of respondents said their current job and/or post-secondary education was influenced by participation in After School Matters. Here’s what some of our alumni had to say:

“I am currently a full-time lifeguard. I use everything I learned in my sports37
After School Matters program each and every day. The skills that I learned shaped my career and made it possible for me to combine something I love with helping others.”
 

“The program I attended opened me up to the reality of the fashion industry and taught me skills I use almost daily. Whether I am just mending my own clothes or helping tailor a costume for my university’s newest play, I see how much I learned with my program. It has given me a great sewing and fashion illustration foundation.”

“I received a lot of job training and knowledge about applying for jobs, the importance of being on time for a real world job, the importance of meeting deadlines, and how to effectively work in teams to get the required job done.”
 

“It has allowed me to explore the various ways in which I may be involved in my community. Learning new sets of skills and putting them to the test has opened up certain passions that I never realized dwelled within me.”
 

“After high school, I continuously discussed my involvement with words37 in my college applications and job applications. The program taught me a lot about communication, whether it be through voice or on paper.”

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