Modern community learning centers are an important aspect of educational development that supports both out-of-school and in-school learning. These learning centers refer to out-of-school-time programs, such as summer camps and both before and after school programs. Across Michigan, there are 250 sites in underserved communities that support around 20,000 K-12 students in the state.
Since the centers’ openings in 2002, researchers at Michigan State University’s University Outreach and Engagement’s Community Evaluation Programs have served as the state evaluator. The funding, provided by the federal government, is administered by the state through Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, or MiLEAP, in partnership with Michigan Department of Education.
In September, the research team, led by Jamie Wu, associate director for Community Evaluation Programs, was awarded a five-year grant in the fifth competitive funding cycle, totaling $530,000 annually.
“Our success in receiving this grant reflects MSU’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship, enabling us to apply social science research in real-world settings — and to do so at a significant, statewide scale,” said Wu, also a research assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. "We integrate insights from the research literature and collaborate with partners across state and local communities to identify quality measures and effective implementation strategies, and to collect data assessing the extent to which programs are delivered to youth and families as intended.”
The benefit of community learning centers
These out-of-school-time programs are supervised activities during non-school hours where students have many learning experiences, such as tutoring; various science, technology, engineering and math — or STEM — activities; sports; and community service opportunities, among other activities.
Learning centers are especially important for supporting students in high-poverty areas and low-performing school districts.
They also enhance in-school learning by offering hands-on, engaging activities that complement classroom instruction and provide personalized homework assistance and tutoring sessions. There are also natural opportunities for K-12 students to develop social-emotional skills, leadership abilities, collaboration and a sense of belonging by fostering stronger connections with peers and those in the community.
Programs often serve as a social outlet where youth can express themselves and explore interests beyond academic subjects — experiences that foster confidence, creativity and character development.
A growing body of research demonstrates that by providing safe, supportive environments and promoting greater student engagement and attendance, out-of-school time programs lead to improved academic performance and overall school success. Michigan’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers were also shown to effectively intergrade recreational and academic activities to boost middle schoolers’ math grades.
How the evaluation process works
Wu and colleagues work closely with MiLEAP staff to ensure the program is providing high quality experiences, relying on data-driven insights for identifying characteristics for improving program improvement, as well as academic and socioemotional outcomes.
Specifically, the team provides ongoing technical support to local programs to help them track youth attendance and program offerings. They also produce research briefs, academic manuscripts and more than 300 program-specific reports each year to demonstrate how youth benefit from participating in out-of-school-time activities, including academic and STEM engagement, as well as recreation, youth development, health, nutrition and fitness education.
“Through this process, we celebrate program successes, generate actionable insights for continuous improvement and ensure that public funds are used responsibly and in alignment with legislative intent,” Wu said. “This work exemplifies how research, practice and policy can come together to strengthen outcomes for young people across Michigan.”
