The first-year findings reveal that while the 21st Century Community Learning Centers changed where and with whom students spent some of their after-school time and increased parental involvement, they had limited influence on academic performance, no influence on feelings of safety or on the...

A Research Report from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program Evaluation.

Summarizes the largest federal study ever conducted of dropout prevention programs, finding three promising models: alternative middle and high schools for those at risk of dropping out, programs aimed at helping older students earn a GED, and whole-school restructuring efforts aimed at dropout...

Argues that we do not yet have a menu of program options for helping students at risk of dropping out and suggests a way to identify approaches that program developers can use while efforts to develop a stronger scientific basis for new programs continue.

Mathematica's latest report shows that 21st Century after-school programs, which currently spend $1 billion a year in federal funding, changed where and with whom students spent some of their after-school time. But our analysis also reveals that programs had only limited influence on academic...

Describes the program, framework and design for the national evaluation, and data and methods to be used in the implementation and impact studies.