A project of the Afterschool Alliance.

New Mexico 21st Century Community Learning Centers: FY18 Evaluation Report

Year Published: 2018

A statewide evaluation of New Mexico’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs during the 2017-18 program year found that an overwhelming majority of regular program participants (attending 30 days or more) showed improvements in their school behavior. According to teachers surveyed, 91 percent of regular program participants improved in classroom behavior, while 88 percent improved in homework and class participation. Regular program participants also demonstrated academic gains, with roughly half of students (51 percent) earning a below passing grade in math and reading during the first grading period raising their grades before the end of term.  

Program Name: New Mexico 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Program Description:

New Mexico’s 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which receives federal funding through the 21st CCLC Initiative, provides academic enrichment opportunities for children at high-poverty and low-performing schools. During the 2017-18 program year, 13 grantees operated 90 sites, serving 10,823 youth as well as engaging 7,707 family members in family events and activities. 

Scope of the Evaluation: Statewide

Program Type: Afterschool

Location: New Mexico

Grade level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Program Demographics:

All schools served by New Mexico’s 21st CCLC programs are Title I eligible, meaning more than 40 percent of students qualify for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. During the 2017-18 program year, 92 percent of students were eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch, 18 percent were identified to have limited English proficiency, and 9 percent were identified to have special needs. Regarding race and ethnicity, 78 percent of students identified as Hispanic or Latino; 10 percent identified as White; 6 percent identified as American Indian or Alaska Native; 1 percent as Black or African American; less than 1 percent identified as Asian; less than 1 percent identified as Multiracial; less one percent identified as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 1 percent as “some other race”; and data was not reported for 2 percent of students.  

Program Website: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/community-schools/21st-century-learning-communities/

Evaluator: O’Malley, C.M., New Mexico Public Education Department

Evaluation Methods:

This evaluation uses the New Mexico Public Education Department’s EZReports system to enter program information, student demographics and attendance, and student outcomes data for regular program participants (attending 30 or more days) into the federal 21APR database, the U.S. Department of Education’s data collection tool.  

Evaluation Type: Non-experimental

Summary of Outcomes:

A statewide evaluation of New Mexico’s 21st CCLC programs found that—based on teacher surveys—an overwhelming majority of regular program participants showed improvements in their school behavior. According to teachers surveyed, 91 percent of regular program participants improved in classroom behavior, while 88 percent improved in homework and class participation.

Regular program participants also demonstrated academic gains. Looking at student grades, 86 percent of regular program participants maintained a passing grade in language arts during the academic year, while 51 percent of students who earned a below passing grade after the first grading period raised their grade before the end of the academic year. In math, 84 percent of regular program participants maintained a passing grade throughout the academic year, while 51 percent of students who earned a below passing grade in math after the first grading period raised their grade before the end of the academic year.

With regard to program satisfaction, according to a survey distributed to students, family, and program staff in the fall and spring academic terms, 95 percent of all survey participants agreed or strongly agreed that “the 21st CCLC program being offered in their community is high quality.” 

Date Added: September 6, 2019