| The purpose of this study is to examine the non-academic benefits of after-school programming in a community context, particularly among immigrant populations. The particular program to be examined is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which was established under the Clinton administration to provide community support services for students and their families in the form of academic enrichment as well as character development, language classes, and social services. Since the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program has a strong potential to address the declining social capital of America's youth, this paper argues for the preservation of community learning centers nationwide, and against the strict use of academic criteria that has recently characterized program evaluations under the Bush administration. |
