Our 21st CCLC Program Manager, Jasmine Coombs, provides insight on how proper program evaluation leads to continuous improvement.
A crucial part of our 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) program is evaluation for continuous improvement. By regularly assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a program, we can make informed decisions about changes and enhancements. Continuous improvement ensures that program remains relevant and effective in meeting the evolving needs of students and their families.
Lana works with an external evaluator at the beginning of each year to formulate a plan for evaluation for the year. Our plan is a mixed method evaluation that includes data collection through program observation, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and data extractions from both our internal databases and DCPS databases.
Our evaluation this year focused on responding to the following questions:
- What are the characteristics of students participating in the program during the 2023-24 school year and what ae their participation patterns?
- To what extent are participating students/family members achieving the grant’s measurable objectives, as outlined in Lana Learn’s 21st CCLC application?
- 50% of students in their Math/ELA class will maintain an A/B grade or improve their grades from Term 1 to Term 4
- 70% of students will meet or exceed the average in-seat school attendance rate among students at Cardozo High School
- 50% of parents will improve understanding of their child’s academic progress
- 85% of students will increase their knowledge of post-secondary education options and
- processes
- 80% of students will attend each college visit
- To what extent are participating students achieving the District of Columbia’s 21st CCLC State Performance indicators?
- How does Lana Learn measure on the US Department of Education’s Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) indicators of progress?
- What are the program’s key programmatic and administrative strengths?
- What are the program’s barriers to success and how are they addressed by staff?
We have completed data collection throughout the year and are now waiting on our request for data from DCPS on the students that participated in the program this year. Once we have that data, and our external evaluator completes her analysis, we will circle back to share the results!
