Impact of COVID-19 on Afterschool Programming Outcomes: Lasting Implications for Underserved Early Adolescents

Background: Afterschool programs (ASPs) funded under the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Act were designed to provide a safe environment for students to engage in extracurricular programming. COVID-19 disrupted the school environment leading to numerous negative outcomes for students and parents, as well as teachers and school administration. The effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt as educational disparities persist, creating opportunities for afterschool programming to help lessen the gaps. Methods: Based on the lasting impact of COVID-19 and the lack of literature on ASPs, the purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a 21st CCLC ASP from spring 2019 to spring 2020 to account for the initial effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our aims were to (1) examine the differences in student ratings of various ASP outcomes the semester before and semester during which COVID-19 began, and (2) determine if student grade level impacts ratings of various ASP outcomes. Findings: Results showed that family involvement significantly increased from before to during COVID-19 and that early adolescents had significantly worse outcomes related to family, friends, grades, and overall opinions of the ASP during the pandemic than those in younger grades. Conclusions and Implications: Recommendations for ways to increase engagement in ASPs for both families and youth transitioning to higher grade levels are discussed.