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27 Jul 2015
Brief

Supporting Social and Emotional Development Through Quality Afterschool Programs

Afterschool brief coverDuring the past 20 years, the afterschool field has been held accountable in varying ways—first, on the ability to provide safe places for young people to spend time while their parents work; then, on success in helping to improve participants’ academic achievement as a supplement to the school day. Today, measuring success in afterschool programs is more nuanced and has been influenced by an increased recognition that the social and emotional competencies youth develop while in afterschool programs are also critical to their success in school and life.

This first brief in our series, Beyond the Bell: Research to Practice in the Afterschool and Expanded Learning Field, focuses on how afterschool programs contribute to the development of social and emotional competencies in young people. In practice, we see how high-quality programs can help participants learn, grow, and develop. But what does the research say? How can we prove it? We chose to focus our first brief on this important topic because there has been a growing recognition that afterschool programs can and do facilitate the social and emotional development of young people. Despite the recent attention this topic has received, efforts to define and measure social and emotional competencies in afterschool settings are still emerging.

This brief provides an overview of work done to date both in afterschool and school-based settings to define social and emotional learning, shares recent research on how afterschool programs contribute to the development of these competencies, and offers some next step recommendations to both practitioners and researchers.

PDF icon BRIEF: Supporting Social and Emotional Development Through Quality Afterschool Programs (PDF)
PDF icon EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Supporting Social and Emotional Development Through Quality Afterschool Programs (PDF)

Related Work

14 Sep 2015
Toolkit

Social and Emotional Learning Practices: A Self-Reflection Tool for Afterschool Staff

Both the formal and informal education communities are increasingly focused on fostering opportunities for social and emotional learning (SEL) and the link between SEL and youth outcomes. This self-reflection tool is designed to help afterschool program staff reflect upon their own social and emotional competencies and their ability to support young people's SEL through program practices.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Teacher Preparation and Performance
11 Jul 2014
Toolkit

BTB Cover_HiRes_small.jpg

Beyond the Bell toolkit cover

Beyond the Bell - 4th Edition: A Toolkit for Creating Effective Afterschool and Expanded Learning Programs

Research shows that afterschool and expanded learning programs work best when they are high quality and evidence-based. Beyond the Bell ® is a suite of professional development services, products, and practical tools designed to help afterschool and expanded learning program leaders and staff members create and sustain high-quality, effective afterschool and expanded learning programs. The newly updated 4th edition was released on May 21, 2014 and has been revised to focus on a cycle of continuous improvement.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning
10 Jul 2014
Video

lss-carol-mcelvain-230x164-01.jpg

Long Story Short Video image: Carol McElvain on Expanded Learning

Long Story Short: Why Are Expanded Learning Programs a Good Investment?

Expanded learning opportunities offer supports and programs for youth outside traditional school hours, including during the summer. In this video interview, Carol McElvain, AIR principal technical assistance consultant, explains how such programs can reinforce learning overall and help prevent summer learning loss.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning
10 Apr 2014
Brief

Building Supportive Relationships in Afterschool

When afterschool programs have positive relationships with school-day personnel, families, community members, and between and among program staff and students, these programs are more likely to thrive. This brief explores how afterschool practitioners can build strong relationships that benefit all stakeholders and improve program quality.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning

Further Reading

  • Linking Schools and Afterschool Through Social and Emotional Learning
  • Beyond the Bell: Turning Research into Action in Afterschool and Expanded Learning
  • Ready for Work? How Afterschool Programs Can Support Employability Through Social and Emotional Learning
  • The In-School and Afterschool Social and Emotional Learning Connection: A Planning Tool
  • How Afterschool Programs Can Support Employability Through Social and Emotional Learning: A Planning Tool
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Image of Deborah Moroney

Deborah Moroney

Vice President

Topic

Education
Afterschool and Expanded Learning
Social and Emotional Learning

RESEARCH. EVALUATION. APPLICATION. IMPACT.

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