Training up a Child: A Program Evaluation of The Training Center in Marion, IN

Indianapolis, IN

After school, many children across the country are faced with with no supervision, food, or engaging activities. The Training Center, located in Marion, IN, is working to combat this issue with programs aimed to improve academic achievement in kids grade K-8. It serves predominantly a low-income school system with extremely poor academic scores and lower-than-average standardized test results. Though in operation for nearly five years, it has no data in regards to it's potential outcomes or influence.The purpose of the study is to evaluate afterschool programming attendance and the Training Center's relationship to higher academic success as demonstrated by grade point average. This study will look at two groups of attendees: those with high attendance rates and those with low attendance rates. The groups will be compared by average GPA. Included in this article is background information and a literature detailing the importance of academic achievement for future success and the gap that exists in many low income communities.