The Evaluation of 32n State-funded Out-of-School Time Programs in Michigan
Starting in January 2024, Community Evaluation Programs at Michigan State University’s University Outreach and Engagement is partnering with the Michigan After-School Partnership (MASP) and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) to examine the impact of the Michigan Out-of-School Time Funding (32N) grant process. Public Act 103 of 2023, Section 32N awarded $50 million in 2023-24 to before- and after-school and summer school programs for K-12 students across the state. Our evaluation examines the implementation and impact of the 32N out-of-school time (OST) funding and aims to provide meaningful data for informed decision-making at the regional and state levels. The core of our work is to better understand equitable access to OST opportunities in Michigan.
The 32N Initiative seeks to improve children’s academic outcomes, positive development, and skill acquisition through quality programming. Funded grantees operate before- and after-school programs during the year and/or educational opportunities during summer vacation. As outlined by Public Act 103 of 2023, Section 32n, “These programs must be used to support expanded learning opportunities, including, but not limited to, mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, art, music, literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health, and recreation programming” (p. 71). The goal of the grant is to advance youth wellbeing as measured by, “...but not limited to, improved school attendance, academic outcomes, positive behaviors, and skill acquisition" (Public Act 103 of 2023, p. 71).
For the 2023-24 program year, Community Evaluation Programs is working with a pilot group of 32N grantees to test out the use of a simplified version of EZReports and the full evaluation plan. The group includes the following 8 geographically diverse grantees and their 18 sites in total:
- 181 Teen Movement (Flint)
- Atlantic Impact (Detroit)
- Blue Water Thumb Youth for Christ (Vassar)
- Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District (UP)
- Greater Midland Early Care & Education (Midland)
- Jennings Development Interplex (Kalamazoo)
- Kingdom Community Center (Muskegon)
- The Other Way Ministries (Grand Rapids)
For more information: