A project of the Afterschool Alliance.

21st Century Community Learning Centers Program: Alabama 2016-2017 Evaluation Report

Year Published: 2018

A 2018 evaluation of Alabama’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs by the Truman Pierce Institute found that students regularly participating in programs with room for improvement saw academic and behavioral gains. Based on teacher surveys, an overwhelming majority of regular program attendees in need of improvement improved their overall academic performance (81 percent), participation in class (81 percent), attentiveness in class (76 percent), motivation to learn (75 percent), and classroom behavior (71 percent). Additionally, nearly 4 in 10 students regularly participating in the program improved their reading (34 percent) and math (37 percent) grades.

Program Name: Alabama 21st Century Community Learning Center

Program Description:

Alabama’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which receives federal funding through the 21st CCLC initiative, provides afterschool and summer academic enrichment opportunities for children at high-poverty and low-performing schools throughout the state. During the 2016-17 program year, 89 grantees operated 163 centers, serving 17,853 students.

Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide

Program Type: Afterschool

Location: Alabama

Grade level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Program Demographics:

During the 2016-17 program year, 48 percent of students were eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch. Regarding race and ethnicity, the majority of students identify as White (47 percent), followed by Black or African American (43 percent). 

Program Website: https://alacn.org/21st-cclc/

Evaluator: Patrick, L., Brown, A., Hanks, M., & Williams, L., Truman Pierce Institute: College of Education, Auburn University

Evaluation Methods:

The evaluation is based on data from 163 centers submitted through the EZ Reports data portal. Student outcomes were measured in terms of academic achievement in math and language arts, and behavioral changes, and programs were assessed on the number and quality of enrichment activities offered to students. Data was collected from a variety of sources, including teacher and parent surveys, student grades, and attendance data. 

Evaluation Type: Non-experimental

Summary of Outcomes:

A 2018 evaluation of Alabama’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs by the Truman Pierce Institute found that students who regularly participated in programs (30 days or more) saw academic and behavioral gains, in particular students who needed to improve in the respective areas.

Based on teacher surveys, among students regularly attending 21st CCLC programs and who were in need of academic improvement, 81 percent improved their academic performance. In addition to teacher survey results, the evaluation found that 37 percent of regularly attending students improved their math grades and 34 percent improved their reading/English grades. For both math and reading grades, respectively, 8 percent of students received the highest grade possible and thus had no room to improve, nor did they decrease.

Teachers also reported improvements in classroom behavior among regular participants. Among regular attendees who were in need of improvement in the following areas, teachers reported that 81 percent improved their class participation, 81 percent improved completing their homework, 76 percent improved their attentiveness in class, 75 percent of students improved their motivation to learn, 72 percent improved their ability to get along with other students, and 71 percent of students improved their classroom behavior. 

Date Added: June 14, 2021