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Extracurricular Activities

RAND research on out-of-school-time pursuits—e.g., after-school programs, summer school, and other efforts offered outside standard classroom hours—evaluates the effect of such activities on problems, from juvenile crime to obesity, and suggests ways to improve after-school programming.

Report
Summer for All: Building Coordinated Networks to Promote Access to Quality Summer Learning and Enrichment Opportunities Across a Community
In this eighth report in RAND's Summer Learning Series, the authors chronicle early efforts in four communities to create coordinated approaches to summer programming, noting their challenges, enablers, and early outcomes.
Nov 10, 2021
Journal Article
Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children: A Focus on Social Inclusion and Children from Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Backgrounds
This research note summarises the existing evidence on the benefits of extracurricular activities, how they can be used to support social inclusion, and how access for disadvantaged children can be improved.
Jun 9, 2021
Journal Article
The Organizational Landscape of Schools: School Employees' Conceptualizations of Organizations in Their Environment
Based on my analysis, I extend theory on the role of neighborhood organizations in creating overlap and connection between the school and the community and extend work on organizational members' sense-making about the organizational field.
Jan 24, 2020
Blog
Youth Sports, Autonomous Vehicles, Mental Health: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why low-income children aren't playing sports, who's liable when autonomous vehicles get hacked, supporting children with mental health issues, and more.
Jul 19, 2019
News Release
Sports Participation Gap Exists Between Youth from Lower-Income and Middle-Income Families
Lower-income parents are less likely than their higher-income counterparts to involve their children in youth sports because of obstacles such as rising costs of these extracurricular activities.
Jul 18, 2019
Report
Kids from Low-Income Families Are Less Likely to Participate in Sports
Parents, school administrators, and community sports program leaders agree that sports participation provides kids with benefits. But only 52 percent of lower-income parents involve their children in sports, compared with 66 percent of higher-income parents, in part because of rising costs and time commitments.
Jul 18, 2019
Commentary
High-Quality Out-of-School-Time Programs Are Worthy of Investment
High-quality out-of-school-time programs can benefit youth, and tend to produce outcomes linked to program content. Funders and policymakers could maximize benefits of these programs by providing adequate resources and funding to support quality programming. It could be a wise investment for America's youth.
Nov 19, 2018
Journal Article
Cumulative and Differential Effects of Early Child Care and Middle Childhood Out-of-School Time on Adolescent Functioning
Effects associated with early childcare and middle childhood organized activities were examined in a sample of adolescents. Higher quality early childcare AND more epochs of organized activities were linked to higher academic achievement at age 15.
Sep 6, 2018
Infographic
Enriching Kids: The Benefits of Using Public Funds to Pay for Out-of-School (OST) Time Programs
This infographic provides an overview of the opportunity and attainment gaps between high-and low-income students and how public funding for after-school programs can help address these gaps.
May 31, 2018
Report
Out-of-School Time Programs Are Worthy of Public Investment
Children need safe places, caring adults, and enriching activities when not in school. Out-of-school time programs build human and cultural capital and develop kids' interests and skills. Public funding helps low-income youth have experiences that may provide lasting developmental benefits.
Oct 23, 2017
Commentary
Adults Are Concerned About Sons Playing Football, Especially the More Highly Educated and Obama 2012 Voters
According to new data, 44 percent of American adults wouldn't be comfortable letting their sons play football. Roughly the same percentage was uncomfortable with their sons playing ice hockey.
Nov 4, 2014
Report
Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Report
This annual report for the California Board of State and Community Corrections measures the success of Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act programs and initiatives for six state-mandated outcome measures and county-mandated supplemental measures.
Aug 12, 2013
Report
Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Report
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2010-2011, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.
Sep 17, 2012
Report
Assessing Operation Purple, a Summer Camp for Military Youth
Military family support programs have proliferated, but there has been little evaluation of whether the programs are meeting their key objectives. An examination of the curriculum, themes, and outcomes of Operation Purple found some positive effects from participation and helps lay the groundwork for future studies.
Jul 25, 2012
Report
Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Report
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2009-2010, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.
Jan 24, 2012
Commentary
Dropping Out, Imprisoned or Killed: Disparities in Outcomes Faced by Young African American Men
Boys and men of color—in particular, young African American men—are particularly vulnerable to racial and ethnic disparities. That such disparities exist should surprise no one. Nor should the fact that such disparities diminish the life chances of those affected, writes Lois M. Davis.
Aug 26, 2011
News Release
Coordination Efforts Could Boost After-School Programming
Coordinating the work of the many different institutions involved in after-school activities -- including schools, nonprofits and municipal agencies like parks and libraries -- holds the promise of making programs better and more accessible to urban children and teens who need them.
Oct 20, 2010
Research Brief
Hours of Opportunity: How Cities Can Use Data to Improve Services in Out-of-School Time Programs
Five cities that received a grant from The Wallace Foundation, along with three other cities that were not part of the initiative, were successful in using data from management information systems to improve out-of-school-time programs.
Oct 19, 2010
Research Brief
Hours of Opportunity: How Cities Can Build Systems to Improve Out-of-School-Time Programs
Five cities that received a grant from The Wallace Foundation to increase collaboration, access, quality, information sharing, and sustainability in their out-of-school-time systems used different planning approaches to meet the initiative's goals.
Oct 18, 2010
Report
Hours of Opportunity, Volume 3: Profiles of Five Cities Improving After-School Programs Through a Systems Approach
The third in this three-volume series presents in-depth case studies of five cities that received funding from The Wallace Foundation to improve out-of-school-time program provision: Providence, Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Sep 27, 2010

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RAND Topic:
Extracurricular Activities

Topic Synonyms:
Out of School Time

Research conducted by

RAND Education and Labor