Coalition for Science After School

Coalition for Science After School
Name	Coalition for Science After School
Formation	2005
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

Coalition for Science After School is a U.S.-based nonprofit network that promotes informal science learning in out-of-school settings through partnerships with museums, universities, community centers, and corporations. Founded in 2005 during conversations among leaders from National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, Boston Children's Museum, Exploratorium, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Coalition aims to connect practitioners, funders, and researchers to expand access to hands-on science museum activities for K–12 youth. It collaborates with a range of institutions including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, Chicago Children's Museum, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

History

The Coalition emerged after convenings hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and leaders from Science Museum of Minnesota and New York Hall of Science to address uneven access to after-school science opportunities. Early collaborators included American Museum of Natural History, Discovery Place, Tech Museum of Innovation, and community organizations linked to United Way of America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Initial programs were piloted with support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York, and evaluated in partnership with research teams from University of Michigan, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Mission and Objectives

The Coalition's mission aligns with goals articulated by National Science Teaching Association and the American Educational Research Association: to broaden participation in STEM learning outside school by leveraging assets of museums, libraries, and community organizations. Objectives emphasize equity models promoted by The Brookings Institution, workforce pathways reflected in reports by U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation, and learning frameworks advanced by Next Generation Science Standards advocates. The Coalition explicitly references guidance from Every Student Succeeds Act conversations and studies by RAND Corporation to prioritize underserved communities.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs partner with institutions such as Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum, California Science Center, Franklin Institute, Pacific Science Center, and Montreal Science Centre affiliates. Initiatives include an after-school curriculum co-developed with Khan Academy-linked researchers and pilot trainings delivered with staff from American Alliance of Museums, Association of Science-Technology Centers, and Afterschool Alliance. Professional development offerings mirror models from Teach For America alumni networks and use evaluation tools from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Signature projects include mobile labs inspired by Mobile Science Lab programs, summer intensives modeled after National Youth Science Camp, and family science nights in collaboration with YMCA of the USA and City Year.

Partnerships and Funding

Funders and partners have included the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Simons Foundation, and corporate partners such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, and Boeing. Collaborative grantmaking has engaged municipal partners including City of Boston, City of Chicago, and Los Angeles County education offices as well as state agencies like the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and California Department of Education. Research grants have been administered with academic partners at Columbia University, Yale University, University of Washington, and University of Texas at Austin.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations have been conducted with teams from RAND Corporation, SRI International, Abt Associates, and researcher networks at Johns Hopkins University and University of California, Los Angeles. Impact reports cite improved science identity measures similar to those reported in studies by American Institutes for Research and correlations with college-going indicators tracked by National Student Clearinghouse. Case studies have documented scalable models at sites including Philadelphia Science Festival partners, Seattle Children's Museum, and Austin's Thinkery that align with outcomes described in reports from Carnegie Mellon University and Columbia Teachers College.

Organizational Structure

The Coalition's governance features a board drawing leaders from Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Science, Boston, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Science Foundation, and prominent universities such as Duke University and Princeton University. Staffed roles include an Executive Director with prior experience at National Geographic Society, a Director of Programs who previously worked at Discovery Education, and a Research Director affiliated with American Association for the Advancement of Science. Regional chapters coordinate with networks like Afterschool Alliance, Association of Science-Technology Centers, and state-level museum associations in California, Texas, New York, and Illinois.

Recognition and Awards

The Coalition and its member sites have received awards from institutions including the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education community, the Gates Foundation Innovation award, and honors from the American Alliance of Museums and Association of Science-Technology Centers. Individual staff have been recognized through fellowships at MacArthur Fellows Program-linked initiatives, grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and awards presented by AAAS and National Science Teachers Association.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States