Research shows that afterschool and expanded learning programs work best when they are high quality and evidence-based. Beyond the Bell ® is a suite of professional development services, products, and practical tools designed to help afterschool and expanded learning program leaders and staff members create and sustain high-quality, effective afterschool ...
Gender equality is central to the World Bank’s goals of ending extreme poverty and improving development outcomes. AIR is partnering with Leveraging Evidence for Access and Development (LEAD) at Krea University to develop a standardized tool to measure gender norms in South Asia.
Quality afterschool and expanded learning opportunities broaden learning and provide enriching experiences outside regular school hours.The Illinois Quality Afterschool initiative provides technical assistance and professional development to all 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees in Illinois. The project is designed to ensure that grantees in Illinois receive the necessary assistance ...
Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and funders are increasingly aware of the powerful potential for summertime experiences and the need to design, implement, and continuously improve summertime experiences for all.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of collecting and using data with intentionality—especially when it comes to the well-being of young people. The Every Hour Counts Measurement Framework can help out-of-school time system leaders leverage data to improve the lives of young people. ...
During middle school, many young people, especially those from low-income communities, disengage from and consequently do not achieve in school-based STEM subjects. The STEM Interest and Engagement Project (STEM IE) studied youth interest and engagement in summer STEM camps in four focus areas.
Ensuring strong alignment between quality standards and afterschool programs requires creative thinking, planning, and collaboration. Afterschool programs that align professional development with quality standards can support staff learning and sustain continuous improvement by reinforcing professional standards and practices. ...
In this brief, AIR researchers offer a potential pathway to understanding how learning and development happen in quality afterschool and summer programs. This pathway emphasizes three key competencies—relationship skills, a sense of agency, and identity development—that research suggests can facilitate learning and development in other areas. ...
The Funding Formula Study Task Force (FFSTF), appointed by the New Mexico State Legislature and the Governor, and under the direction of the Legislative Council Service, commissioned AIR to conduct a comprehensive study on the current New Mexico public school funding formula.
Kevin Junk is a TA Consultant at AIR. Junk has over 20 years of experience supporting school improvement in public education from rural, suburban, and urban districts. Currently, Junk is leading a project with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) through the Region 9 Comprehensive Center. This project consists ...