Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network Leads the Way in Quality Improvement with Data & Outcomes PLC
Data is critical. It tells us not only who is being served, but also helps us identify gaps in access to out-of-school time (OST) programs and other services. Good data is foundational to helping OST programs understand how their programming is impacting youth and where they have opportunities for growth and expanded impact. In 2024, GSAN launched the Data and Outcomes PLC with the goal of transforming the data landscape for OST staff who are passionate about providing the best possible programming and experiential opportunities to the youth they proudly serve. Using little more than the numbers they routinely collect, experiences for youth can be adapted and improved exponentially.
This 6-month series, which kicked off on October 11, 2024, brought together over 20 leaders from various regions and organizations across the state. Each month, these professionals gathered to collaborate, learn, and share insights on crucial topics such as using data to secure funding, improve programs, visualize information, and identify effective data collection tools at low or no cost.
Sessions began with “Good News,” where participants celebrate their successes, and concluded with a “Spotlight,” segment showcasing individual programs. Additionally, the PLC made available to participants 1:1 coaching support, providing personalized guidance to maximize the impact of data-driven practices.
The importance of data and outcomes in youth development is a central theme throughout the PLC. Participants actively enhanced program quality, measured student growth, and worked to ensure sustainability by effectively utilizing data.
The Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Implementation and Systems Studies highlight significant gains in service delivery and program evaluation over the 3-year life of the grant program, underscoring the critical role of data in achieving these improvements. “One thing that I’m better at because of the community of practice with GSAN and TRE,” remarked one participating staff member from BOOST Grantee organization Kids College at Wesleyan College, “is knowing what kind of data to request and how to pose that so that parents and students can answer effectively and let us know how our program is impacting their lives.” The PLC’s focus on data-driven practices helped OST professionals understand the value of data collection and its application in improving program quality and sustainability.
One of the standout sessions, facilitated with the help and partnership of training organization TRE, “Creating Masterpieces with Data Dashboards,” demonstrated the power of data visualization to engage stakeholders and increase program funding. This highly interactive session, which reached audience capacity at the recent National AfterSchool Association (NAA) conference, guided attendees through the creation of their own data dashboards.
By transforming data into compelling visual stories, participants learned strategies to effectively communicate their impact and drive positive outcomes for youth development programs statewide. “The PLC empowers OST professionals to leverage data,” said Patrice Holt, GSAN’s Senior Training Specialist, “One of our primary goals is to promote a culture of ongoing improvement and innovation in youth development.”