The authors explain that as our society, and thus our workplace, becomes increasingly complex, schools are hard pressed to meet all the educational demands of children. As such, parents who have had access have increasingly utilized local youth programs such as enrichment activities, clubs, sports teams, and faith-based youth programs to meet the educational needs of their children. Many of these after-school programs are developed by community-based organizations in collaboration with local school systems. Beginning in May 1998, the authors of this report began a widespread evaluation of after-school programs in order to offer practitioners, funders, and policymakers with an understanding of how local, school-based collaborations develop and manage after-school enrichment programs. The evaluation process involved the use of multi-methods, including site visits and interviews with program staff, parents, partners, students, and local officials. This report details the findings of this wide-scale evaluation. Chapter one introduces the evaluation and offers background information about the importance of after-school programs to the education of American youth. Chapter two focuses on the 10 after-school programs where site visits were conducted in order to inform the reader of the organization and management of such programs. Chapter three describes the participants of these programs, with an analysis of why they participated and how often they utilized the programs. Chapter four offers a closer examination of the activities offered at three of the program sites in order to inform the reader of those activities that seem to most contribute to the educational growth of participants. Finally, chapter five extends the discussion of chapter four in order to more closely examine the qualities of successful after-school programming. References, appendices, tables, and figures