Results of research and evaluation efforts are just beginning to shed some light on how to create and maintain high-quality after-school programs. This research roundup reviews five documents that touch upon a range of issues related to the developing field of after-school programming. “Getting School-Based After-School Programming Off the Ground” (Grossman, Walker, & Raley, 2001) shares preliminary findings regarding what it takes to plan and launch school-based after-school programs. “Extended Learning Initiatives: Opportunities and Implementation Challenges” (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2000) provides detailed profiles of state-sponsored extended-learning initiatives operating in six states. “Sustainability in School-Linked After-School Programs: Leadership, Program Quality, and Sustainability” (Pechman & Feister, 2002) gives practitioners, funders, and policymakers a better understanding of the challenges involved in sustaining emerging after-school programs. “When Schools Stay Open Late: The National Evaluation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program” (U.S. Department of Education, 2003) reports on first-year findings from a sample of sites in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. “Afterschool Education: Approaches to an Emerging Field” (Noam, Biancarosa, & Dechausay, 2003) provides an overview of current knowledge and practices to help “scaffold” future development in the field of after-school education. (Author/WFA)
