Comparison of Findings of the First and Second Reports

The comparison below is presented separately for elementary and middle school students because the basis for differences in findings differs for the two groups. For elementary school students, differences in findings between the first and second reports are due to the addition of new sites to the study; for middle school students, differences in findings relate to an additional follow-up year.

Elementary School Students

Supervision and Location After School. Both reports found that elementary school students attending programs were less likely to be supervised by parents and siblings and more likely to be supervised by other adults. They also were more likely to be at school and less likely to be at home during after-school hours.

Academic Achievement. Both reports found that programs generally did not improve academic outcomes such as grades or test scores. In the first report, elementary school students had higher grades in social studies but not in English, mathematics, or science. In the second report, grades were not higher in any of the four subjects. Both reports found no difference in reading test scores. Both reports found homework completion was lower; the second report's finding was statistically significant.

Safety After School. Both reports found that students reported feeling safer after school; only the second report's finding (based on a larger sample size) was statistically significant.

Social, Emotional, and Developmental Outcomes. Both reports found that students were more likely to help other students after school. There were no differences in other outcomes, such as the extent to which students reported getting along with others or setting goals and working toward them.

Negative Behaviors. Students were equally likely to be disciplined for bad behavior, be suspended, or receive detention.

Parent Outcomes. Both reports found that parents were more likely to attend after-school events, to help their children with homework, and to ask their children about class.

Subgroup Outcomes. Neither report found noteworthy patterns of subgroup outcomes. In the second report, students from two-parent households had larger impacts on some outcomes than students from single-parent households, but these differences were no longer significant after controlling for students' membership in other subgroups. This subgroup was not examined in the first report.

Middle School Students

Supervision and Location After School. The first report found that program students were more likely than comparison-group students to be supervised by other adults and less likely to be supervised by parents or siblings. Students also were more likely to be at school and less likely to be at home during the after-school hours. In the second report, the only significant findings were a reduction in being supervised by siblings and an increase in being at school during the after-school hours.

Academic Achievement. Both reports found few differences in academic outcomes. In the first report, students had higher grades in math but not in English, science, or social studies. In the second report, students had higher grades in social studies but not in English, math, or science. Both reports found no differences in homework completion. School absences were lower for treatment students relative to comparison students in both reports.

Safety After School. Both reports found no differences in feelings of safety after school.

Social, Emotional, and Developmental Outcomes. Both reports found an increase in students who expected to go to college.

Negative Behaviors. Both reports found mixed evidence on negative behaviors. Some estimates indicated that program students were more likely to engage in negative behaviors and others showed no difference.

Parent Outcomes. The first report indicated that parents were more likely to attend open houses, parent/teacher organization meetings, and after-school events, and more likely to volunteer at school. The second report found no differences in parent involvement.

Subgroup Outcomes. The first report found some increases in academic outcomes for black and Hispanic middle school students. The second report did not find such increases.

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