Leveraging Youth Voices: An Evaluation of Student Involvement in After-School Program Decision

Abstract Information: Incorporating student input is crucial to enhancing youth participation in after-school academic enrichment and youth development programs. The Afterschool Alliance (2009) highlighted the importance of student involvement in programs catering to high school-aged youth, in particular. Program staff can engage students in decision-making processes, such as planning activities and other program-related choices. One way to do this is by establishing a student council to provide leadership opportunities for young people and ensure their representation in partner and staff meetings. This presentation will focus on grant-funded after-school programs managed by school districts and community-based organizations in NYC Public Schools. The presentation will delve into the ways in which youth were involved in program decisions through structured interviews with 30 after-school program staff. Based on these interviews, a few promising practices in engaging youth in after-school programs will be selected as case studies. We will explore obstacles and enablers of student engagement by having conversations with the students who were actively engaged in these programs and with the staff members overseeing the initiatives. We will also analyze student retention and satisfaction outcomes associated with having practices to amplify student voices. In addition, we will reflect on how youth input is reflected in the evaluation of these programs, emphasizing the importance of integrating youth perspectives in the evaluation process. By gathering insights from students and staff, we aim to provide a comprehensive account of the impact of leveraging youth voices in after-school programs. Prioritizing youth voices and involvement can create impactful after-school programs, and evaluators can promote harnessing youth-centered approaches among program implementation teams. Leveraging the voices of young people can lead to more empowering and impactful after-school programs, especially for students in underserved communities.