A review of over 50 studies of afterschool programs conducted by The Afterschool Alliance suggests: (1) quality afterschool programs improved school attendance, engagement in learning, test scores, and grades; (2) frequency and duration of afterschool participation increases benefits; and (3) high-risk youth show the greatest benefits. This fact sheet reports on research dealing with: (1) young people's need for out-of-school time opportunities; (2) the ways in which children and youth spend time after school; (3) the effects on the health and well-being of children and youth who participate in afterschool programs; (4) the opportunities offered by afterschool programs to students with special needs; (5) the growing need to learn 21st century skills, with which after school programs can help; (6) the out-of-school time workforce; (7) trends in public support and funding for after school programs; and (8) how the after school programs can be strengthened.