Out-of-School Programming
Supporting the development of our students means more than facilitating classroom learning. Some of the most powerful youth development programs and initiatives seek to work with students in and out of school to develop their strengths and support a wide range of valuable skills and behaviors. RFA has extensive experience working with non-profits and other out-of-school program operators to help ensure that their programs are effective, consistently implemented, and research-based.
Selected Activities
- Member, Project U-Turn Steering Committee – Philadelphia, PA
- Member, Congreso Evaluation Advisory Committee – Philadelphia, PA
Selected Projects
RFA was contracted by City Year Miami and the Knight Foundation to conduct a two-year mixed-method evaluation study of City Year's Whole School Whole Child (WSWC) model. The program components of the WSWC model focus on providing students with academic support from caring young adults, strengthening peer relationships for students through in-school and after-school programming, and promoting a positive school climate. The goal of the evaluation is to provide formative feedback on the implementation of WSWC and to contribute to future City Year evaluation efforts by developing a research design, instrumentation, and data collection techniques that can be used in Miami and elsewhere.
RFA is conducting evaluation research for City Year Greater Philadelphia which has two major purposes: (1) summative research uses survey and student outcome data to address project benchmarks. (2) qualitative research at 3 in-depth research sites will provide feedback on program implementation at the middle and high school level and highlight strong practices that could be shared across the City Year Greater Philadelphia schools.
Need in Deed, a Philadelphia-based organization, prepares and supports teachers as they integrate service-learning into their classroom practice. RFA conducted a one-year outcomes evaluation to determine the ways in which NID's work with teachers affects students. RFA has also conducted two formative evaluations for NID; a six-month formative evaluation that addressed questions related to the programs developing focus on providing professional development to teachers and a two-year formative evaluation that focused on organizational growth.
NSCC is an Americorps National Service Program. Full-time NSCC participants implement academic and other support programs in public schools during the school day; they also carry out after-school activities for students, parents, and community members, service learning programs, and summer programs. RFA conducted an evaluation to assess the impact of Corps members' work on Philadelphia school students and on the Corps members themselves. In addition, RFA conducted evaluations of specific program components, including after-school programs and socialized recess.
This grant program from the U.S. Department of Education supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. Research for Action has been selected to evaluate this grant for six local organizations, including Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Pan American Charter School, Education Works, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, Catholic Social Services, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center.
