Guides
Practical, sourced explainers on after-school programs, school data, and funding.
How to keep a 21st CCLC grant: compliance and reporting requirements
Winning a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant is only the start. Here are the reporting, evaluation, fiscal, and monitoring requirements you must meet every year to keep the funding.
After-school programs and academic achievement: what the evidence says
A plain-language summary of what decades of research suggest about how regular, high-quality after-school participation relates to school outcomes.
Signs of a high-quality after-school program
The research-backed markers of program quality — relationships, engagement, structure, and family connection — and how to spot them on a visit.
Transportation to and from after-school programs
How children get to and from after-school programs safely — on-site programs, district busing, provider vans, and the questions to ask.
How after-school programs support working parents
The after-school gap between the school bell and the end of the workday, and how programs give working families safe, reliable coverage.
After-school programs for middle schoolers: a different set of needs
Why middle-school students need different after-school programming than younger children, and how to find programs that keep tweens engaged.
How to start an after-school program (a step-by-step guide)
A practical, plain-English guide to launching an after-school program — from the need you'd be filling and choosing a model, to licensing, staffing, funding, and your first day. Built for parents, teachers, nonprofits, and community organizations.
STEM after-school programs: what to look for
How to evaluate science, technology, engineering, and math enrichment programs — hands-on learning, qualified mentors, and real projects over screen time.
Summer learning loss and how out-of-school programs help
What summer learning loss is, why it compounds over the years, and how summer and after-school programs help children keep their skills sharp.
Paying for after-school care: scholarships, subsidies, and sliding scales
An overview of the ways families cover after-school costs — child care subsidies, sliding-scale fees, employer benefits, and program scholarships.
10 questions to ask on an after-school program tour
A printable list of questions about safety, staffing, academics, and daily routine to ask when you visit an after-school program in person.
Free after-school programs: how to find one near you
Where to look for no-cost after-school care — federally funded 21st CCLC sites, school district programs, and community nonprofits — and how to tell if your child qualifies.
How to choose an after-school program: a parent's checklist
A practical, step-by-step guide to evaluating after-school programs — safety, academics, cost, transportation, and the questions to ask before you enroll.
What is 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding?
A plain-English explanation of the only federal funding stream dedicated to before-school, after-school, and summer programs — how it works, who gets it, and why it matters.