The Promise of Afterschool Programs for Promoting School Connectedness

Youth, parents and guardian, and school staff reports were used to explore key design features and qualities of after-school programs that foster school connectedness, (i.e., the degree to which youth feel connected to their school, measured by feelings of connection, attendance, and academic outcomes). The focus of this study was the Central Ohio Afterschool Youth Development Program, which targets programs in at-risk communities based on poverty and school performance. Results show that a variety of program features fostered school connectedness.