Our Reports & Research
OregonASK publishes reports on the reach and impact of afterschool and summer learning programs in Oregon, and also catalogs key studies from other researchers. Look below for a mix of Oregon-specific research and national studies that help demonstrate the power and promise of afterschool and summer learning.
Key Research on Afterschool & Summer Learning
Hundreds of thousands of Oregon youth want to be in afterschool programs, but don’t have access. For every child in an afterschool program in Oregon, 3 more children are waiting to get in, totaling 234,375 Oregon kids that would participate in an afterschool program if one were available to them. Read more at America After 3pm, from the Afterschool Alliance
Access to afterschool and summer programs is distributed inequitably across Oregon. Families and youth from underserved communities experience bigger barriers to participation in afterschool programs. And yet, youth from underserved communities also demonstrate the most benefits from afterschool programs. The very youth that face the biggest barriers to accessing afterschool programs stand to gain the most from them. Read more in our Access & Equity Report (link)
Youth benefit from afterschool and summer programs in many ways. “Well-designed and well-delivered summer and afterschool programs positively impact foundational skills that students need for success in school and life.” Youth who participate in programs attend school more, do better in school, and are more likely to graduate. They build work and life skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, communications, and positive decision-making. Read more.
Afterschool and summer learning is a worthwhile investment. Every $1 invested in afterschool programs leads to a return on investment of$4.60. Read more in OregonASK’s ROI (link to ROI)
Get involved! Use our advocacy guide or resources from National League of Cities to share the power of afterschool with policy makers in your community. Find your local legislators.
OregonASK Reports and Research
Summer Learning
Return On Investment
Emergency Preparedness
Access & Equity
Historical Reports
- Reimagine Oregon: Improving Youth-to-Work and Workforce Systems in the Wake of COVID-19 (9/2020)
- Report & Recommendations for Improving Access to Learning and Creating A Sustainable Pathway for All (Every Student Success Acts and Expanded Learning Opportunities) (2017)
- Afterschool & STEM System-Building Evaluation 2016: State Afterschool Network Report – Oregon. Published by the PEAR Institute & Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis & Policy at Texas Tech University
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Out-of-School-Time Programs in Oregon (2015)
- Oregon Summer Learning Report: Summer Learning, Summer Library, Summer Lunch (2015)
- Afterschool: A Parent Point of View (2013)
- Afterschool Workforce: A Critical Partner (2012)
- Oregon’s Vision for Supporting Student Success through Expanded Learning Opportunities (2012)
Data Collection and Story-Telling in Your Own Program
How do you share the story of your afterschool or summer program? How do you demonstrate success? How do you find areas for improvement and act on them? Collecting data and telling your story — to families, to legislators, to funders — is important, but often challenging. A few of our favorite resources on this topic include:
More than Numbers: A Guide Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection
Dabbling in the Data: A Hands-on Guide to Participatory Data Analysis, published by Public Project
Guidebook for the Every Hour Counts Framework for Measurement, Continuous Improvement, and Equitable Systems, published by Every Hour Counts.
Want to learn more?
Email katie.lakey@oregonask.org to learn about our Data Collection in Your Program workshop.