Critical Reflection 4: Issues, Ethics, & Dissimination Journal Prompt Critically reflect on the appropriate audience(s) to whom the evaluation plan you developed would be presented and the political and ethical considerations you would need to consider in regard to your findings.

As burgeoning scholar-practitioners, students engaging in all reflective activities in this course are expected to support their decisions, beliefs, and opinions with sources from properly cited literature and/or, when appropriate, a strategic informant (as you did in strategic planning). Students engaging in the practice of scholarly research will exhibit that effort through multiple, properly cited references in all aspects of their assignments.

The Afterschool Attendance Academy The Afterschool Attendance Academy would be implemented for students to regain credits lost for excessive absences while gaining new extracurricular fun activities. This program evaluation plan aims to assess the effectiveness and impact of an after-school program implemented in a high school setting. Regardless of the success of the study program offered services and resources, the ability to provide minorities and non-English speakers with the necessary support. The program's goal is to give participants the information and abilities they need to better attain and retain school credits. Program Outcome for SMART: Fifty percent of participants will show an improvement in their general knowledge and skills related to financial literacy by the end of the course. Enhanced Parental Involvement: where parents intentionally involve and sustain by giving good examples about study choices. Program Description & Evaluations Needs The goal and objective(s) of the evaluation A plan is to help identify areas where students may be struggling to determine where additional support or resources are needed. The evaluation will focus on understanding how well the program is meeting both its objectives and outcomes. The program's SMART objective is to increase student participation in afterschool workshops by 50% within six months. At the same time The SMART outcome is a decrease in absences among participants by 50% at the end of the school year. Stakeholder(s) from whom you would need information. The program will be started regarding the interaction of the stakeholders towards this after-school Attendance Academy, before, during, and after such implementation, as well as identifying any areas in need for improvement to better support all needs of students. Stakeholders will be responsible for policy decisions on programs funded via local or federal grants while complying with federal parental engagement regulations at the school level. Method(s) used for needs assessment. Performance Monitoring The type of evaluation The Afterschool Attendance Academy aims to reduce dropout rates and provide valuable skills for community members through certifications or graduation. The evaluation needs assessment was conducted through surveys, focus groups, and interviews with students as well as staff. The school's funding is constantly evaluated to improve resources and certifications. The program's funding will be adjusted if community needs are not met and/or reports of discrimination or harassment are found. Key findings highlight a high level of interest in after-school attendance resources. An interesting fact was a lack of awareness about available services and an expressed need for home attendance reduction strategies. [Narratively report the information from AoC 1 in a manner that provides the reader with the program goal, SMART objective(s), and SMART outcome, as well as how the evaluation needs assessment was conducted. This includes providing details about the methods used to gather information about the target population's needs, preferences, and barriers, as well as key findings and how they informed the development of the evaluation plan.] Theory of Change Program and Problem to Be Addressed The Afterschool Attendance Academy program targets students experiencing excessive absenteeism by providing them with tools and techniques to positively manage their time effectively. Engaging students in planned workshops, they will be equipped with coping mechanisms to deal with stress, ultimately leading to decreased anxiety levels and improved school attendance outcomes. To regain credits lost for excessive absences while gaining new extracurricular fun activities. Research indicates new extracurricular practices can lead to reduced stress levels, improved emotional regulation, and better overall well-being among students. Primary stakeholders would be the school students, primarily in the high school setting, parents, clergy, school board, city board as well as neighborhood business owners (SFC Stakeholders Partnership Strengths and Needs chart in appendices). Strategies An afterschool program that would implement new activities for the students such as: Academic Assistance/Homework Help Academic Assistance/Homework Help Fine Arts Technology Tools/Skills Digital Media Robotics Culinary Arts Agricultural Engineering College and Career Exploration Fine Arts Service Learning Outdoor Learning Adventures Family Engagement/Literacy Activities Targets Clear understanding (and preparation) of the change to take place, with a decrease in absenteeism, that would allow stakeholders to change would include: What to expect The meaning of the change What is required of the client system in adapting to the change? Utilize Pilot Study Iron out problems Less threatening "Sell" the rest of the client system on the idea. Outcomes The impact for primary stakeholders should be reflected in a manner that would List and document possible responses or actions that might strengthen each important driving force or weaken each important restraining force. Improved Test Scores and Grades will be the ultimate measure, and primary goal, of academic success. Moderators The following are some contextual factors that could affect who gets the most benefits from the after-school program when programming schedules since the nature of the limited time frame due to the school calendar and state testing: Reinforcement Manage the dynamics of the change process Patient and persistent Two-way communication Follow-up [Building off your first reflection, summarize the problem of practice the program was designed to address, the stakeholders who will benefit from the program, and the associated targets for the stakeholders. Explain the activities of the program and how/why they should benefit the stakeholders. Provide evidence from existing research that support the activities as a intervention for addressing the problem of practice the program was designed to address.] Logic Model & Evaluation Research Questions Type of Evaluation: Performance Evaluation Goal(s): 1. To expand student engagement and attendance in after-school programs. 2. To enrich academic performance and homework completion rates. 3. To increase student social skills and reduce behavioral issues. Outcomes: 1. To regain credits lost for excessive absences while gaining new extracurricular fun activities. 2. Increased Knowledge: Stakeholders develop insight into higher attendance. 3. Enhanced Parental Involvement: parents intentionally involve and sustain by giving good examples about study choices. 4. The ability to provide minorities and non-English speakers with the necessary support is crucial for a positive impact.

Performance Monitoring Input Activities Outputs Outcomes Impact $150,000 annual budget Homework Assistance Completed Assignments Increased homework turn-in rate Improved test scores and grades 3 Full-time educators Skill-building Workshops Workshop Attendance Positive workshop feedback Enhanced study and life skills Program director Mentoring Program Mentorship Sessions Student satisfaction with mentoring Reduction in negative behaviors 2 Part-time counselors Parent Workshops Parental Participation Increased parent engagement Greater family engagement in education School facilities usage Attendance Monitoring Attendance Records Higher after-school attendance Sustained after-school attendance Educational materials Technology (laptops, software) Business partnerships for mentoring

[Present a logic model (corrected AoC 2) that visually represents the program's inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Clearly define each component and illustrate the logical connections between them. The Afterschool Attendance Academy Outcome and Research Question RQ 1. How does an afterschool program implemented for students to regain credits lost for excessive absences affect participants' school retention? (Educators, Program Director, Counselors): Qualified personnel are crucial for implementing the program's activities. Educators deliver the educational content, the program director oversees the program's execution, and counselors provide additional support to students, addressing personal and academic challenges. RQ 2. How does an afterschool program implemented for students to regain credits lost for excessive absences affect participants' school retention? Targeted sessions help students complete their homework, addressing difficulties they may encounter with their school assignments. Improving homework completion rates will be the direct aim of this support point. Improved Test Scores and Grades will be the ultimate measure of academic success and a primary goal of the program.

Following your logic model, provide the research questions that address the evaluation's objectives and outcomes (corrected AoC 3). These questions should guide data collection and analysis efforts, aiming to assess the program's effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and/or impact, depending on your type of evaluation.] Data Collection Design Qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews. The selection of participants who are both willing and able will be accomplished through the use of a convenience sampling strategy. Convenience sampling is a realistic alternative since it may become difficult to reach a representative sample, it is applied research, but also similar to basic research as it follows a logical and orderly sequence of evaluation (Royse et al., 2016). Sample To address this research issue, a qualitative research methodology will be employed. This design entails gathering and evaluating data to fully grasp each important driving force or weaken each important restraining force. Data Collection The research design for this evaluation will involve a mixed-methods approach. A purposive sampling method will be used to select participants who have engaged with the program. Pre- and post-course surveys measuring participants' knowledge and abilities will be used to gather data. Quantitative data will be readily collected through pre- and post-surveys measuring attendance trends and academy participation rates. Focus groups with participants at the end of the course will gather qualitative data as they are asked to disclose any perceived improvements in their study practices and to reflect on their experiences. Additionally, qualitative data will be gathered through the use of focus group conversations with participants after the teaching course. Analysis The data that is collected will be transcribed and analyzed using a technique known as thematic analysis. This technique uniquely entails locating and categorizing themes, which may appear throughout the data at various times. The evaluation aims to understand the long-term perceptions of teachers and students perspective of the program's effectiveness towards student academic success. [Describe the research design that will be employed to answer the evaluation research questions. Include the most appropriate research methods, sampling , data sources, and data collection instruments for assessing program outcomes and processes (Corrected AoC 3).] Ethical Considerations Ethical Ethical considerations in program evaluations include respecting assessment norms and using professional competencies. For this evaluation, obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring the confidentiality of data collected, and prioritizing the well-being and safety of all individuals involved, will be necessary. Participants' rights to withdraw at any time will be informed clearly. Respecting learner privacy and providing resources for improvement are crucial, while participation is essential for those interested. Any potential risks, such as discussing sensitive attendance habits, will be handled with the most sensitivity and care These tools are not just about identifying problems, but also about finding opportunities for improvement and making education better for all students. By maintaining the privacy and anonymity of participants, ethical principles will be upheld throughout the entire evaluation process. Discuss ethical considerations associated with the evaluation, including informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and potential risks to participants. Describe how ethical principles will be upheld throughout the evaluation process.] Conclusions The logic model for The Afterschool Attendance Academy outlines a clear and concise short-term and long-term impacts. connection between the program's resources and its intended short-term and long-term impacts. This program evaluation plan aims to provide effective and valuable insights into the after school absentee rates in the high school setting. A key question would be; what has been done in a creative way? (Royse et.al, 2016). The reason for asking this type of question is their assessment of appropriateness, effectiveness and efficacy of the program. This connection demonstrates how the strategic investment of resources would generate a valuable output, which in turn leads to significantly positive outcomes. Establishing performance indicators can achieve enhanced social skills and improved academic performance. Measurements and evaluations should provide evidence of the effectiveness of the program. Through a comprehensive and ethical engagement approach, the program can be defined to meet target population better. The program is not only expected to be effective in promoting student success but also to meet high standards of educational quality. These results could positively be used as a guiding strategy for future improvements as well as decision making enhancements to better impact the program. Outcomes that will definitely improve the lively hood for all who are in the program. [Summarize the key components of the program evaluation plan, emphasizing its importance in assessing program effectiveness, informing decision-making, and ultimately improving outcomes for the target population.] Conclusions

In conclusion, By assessing outcomes and processes, the evaluation will inform future decision-making to enhance the impact of the program and improve outcomes for students experiencing stress and anxiety. References American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). American Psychological Association. Royse, D., Thyer, B. A., & Padgett, D. K. (2016). Program evaluation: An Introduction to an evidence-based approach (6th edition). Cengage. W. K. Kellogg Foundation. (2017). The W. K. Kellogg Foundation step-by-step guide to evaluation. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. https://www.betterevaluation.org/sites/default/files/WKKF_StepByStepGuideToEvaluation_smaller.pdf

[Begin references on a new page and cite any sources or references used to inform the development of the evaluation plan.] Appendices SFC STAKEHOLDERS PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHS AND NEEDS STRENGTHS NEEDS Improving Communication Translation services provided for non-English speakers Provide a consistent two-way channels for home-school and school-home Promoting Positive Parenting Respect of different cultures Provide a family night each semester that will foster family learning Enhancing Student Learning Accessibility to Websites for learning resources Engage parent-child activities that will enhance relationships and grades Increasing Volunteerism School calendar of events in place on social media, volunteer opportunities could be added also Non-existent volunteer program Supporting Decision Making and Advocacy Since there are no initiatives in place it is a great opportunity to develop a committee solely devoted There are no indications of any participation, or knowledge of opportunities to participate, from the families. Collaborating with the Community There is a direct partnership in place with the main majors offered, such as nursing, engineering, etc. Half of those surveyed relayed a partial knowledge of some partnerships with the school. However, there is direct contact with the partnerships and families.