title: Out-of-School-Time Academic Programs to Improve School Achievement: A Community Guide Health Equity Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-income and minority status in the United States are associated with poor educational outcomes, which, in turn, reduce the long-term health benefits of education.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review assessed the extent to which out-of-school-time academic (OSTA) programs for at-risk students, most of whom are from low-income and racial/ethnic minority families, can improve academic achievement. Because most OSTA programs serve low-income and ethnic/racial minority students, programs may improve health equity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods of the Guide to Community Preventive Services were used. An existing systematic review assessing the effects of OSTA programs on academic outcomes (Lauer et al 2006; search period 1985-2003) was supplemented with a Community Guide update (search period 2003-2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized mean difference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two studies from the existing review and 25 studies from the update were combined and stratified by program focus (ie, reading-focused, math-focused, general academic programs, and programs with minimal academic focus). Focused programs were more effective than general or minimal academic programs. Reading-focused programs were effective only for students in grades K-3. There was insufficient evidence to determine effectiveness on behavioral outcomes and longer-term academic outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSTA programs, particularly focused programs, are effective in increasing academic achievement for at-risk students. Ongoing school and social environments that support learning and development may be essential to ensure the longer-term benefits of OSTA programs.
authors.affiliation: Community Guide Branch, Division of Epidemiology, Analysis and Library Services, Office of Public Health Scientific Services (Mr Knopf, Drs Hahn and Chattopadhyay, and Mss Proia and Qu), Office of the Associate Director for Science, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD & TB Prevention (Dr Truman), Division of Adolescent & School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Mr Hunt), and Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Jones); Hygeia Dynamics, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Milstein); Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey (Dr Johnson); University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario (Dr Muntaner); UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (Dr Fielding); and Columbia University, New York, New York (Dr Fullilove).
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Krista K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Proia
authors.forename: Benedict I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Truman
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muntaner
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.forename: Camara Phyllis
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mindy T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fullilove
authors.forename: Pete C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Shuli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Sajal K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: Bobby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milstein
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D012574:Schools / Q000639:trends*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States