Evidence from research is more important than ever to demonstrate the impact of high-quality afterschool and summer STEM programs. It is also critical to guide providers in strengthening programs and informing policies that increase access for all young people. By summarizing existing research and identifying knowledge gaps, we aim to build awareness, strengthen investment, and support a field that continues to grow, adapt, and better serve youth.
As the field grows and evolves, it’s up to all of us—advocates, educators, and community leaders—to use evidence to make the case for why the public should invest financially, socially, and politically in these programs to ensure every young person has the STEM learning opportunities they deserve. Explore our research to see the latest findings and discover how you can use them to advance practice, policy, and impact.
Report: Exploring the Afterschool STEM Educator Landscape - Challenges, Needs, & Opportunities
This report explores the workforce needs of afterschool STEM programs so they can provide high-quality STEM programming for all youth. With insights from program providers, educators, professional development providers, and youth, the report lays out STEM educator recruitment and retention challenges, innovative solutions, and recommendations for policymakers, the afterschool field, and funders.
Read the Report Here Read the Executive Summary HereAfterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review Newsletters
In these reviews, we provide a synopsis of afterschool STEM research and offer implications for practice, research, and policy. In sharing timely research updates and discovering knowledge gaps, our hope is that awareness, investment in, and support of the afterschool STEM field can continue to grow, learn, and adapt to better serve our youth.
Read the Research Reviews HereAfterschool STEM Programs: A Vital Investment
Written by our Research Working Group, the brief summarizes the most up to date research making the case for why investments in and support for afterschool and summer STEM programs reap numerous benefits for youth and their communities.
Read the Evidence Brief HereAmerica After 3PM STEM Special Report
America After 3PM spans a decade of data chronicling how children spend the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. — the hours after school ends and before parents typically return home from work. It highlights the trends of afterschool program participation, documents the benefits associated with participation in afterschool programs, and measures public support for afterschool programs.
Read the Report Here Interactive STEM DashboardAfterschool Alliance STEM Research Database
Check out this database of research evaluating afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school time STEM learning.
Explore the Database HereAfterschool Impacts Database
Need evaluation and impact reports demonstrating the impact of afterschool STEM? Have fun exploring these impact evaluations of STEM-specific afterschool programs.
Explore the Impacts Database Here(Un)Common Measures
The STEM Hub co-designed a convening for afterschool STEM practitioners, researchers, evaluators, and stakeholders to explore the state of evaluation and measurement tools for use in afterschool STEM.
Learn More Here