Afterschool programs have been operating for decades in communities across the country, and federal investment in afterschool has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s. However, even more investment in the field of afterschool, which includes before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs, is needed to keep up with the growing demand. Parents and voters overwhelmingly support afterschool and want to see more afterschool opportunities for children and increased funding for programs. As public demand and need for afterschool have grown, so too has the demand for accountability. This is particularly true for afterschool programs that utilize public dollars. After all, where tax dollars flow, so must accountability to taxpayers. Fortunately for afterschool advocates, a steady stream of afterschool evaluations are showing important gains for children, not only in terms of academic achievement but also in terms of safety, discipline, attendance and avoidance of risky behaviors. In addition, researchers have found that afterschool programs encourage increased parental involvement, an important building block for student success. This updated evaluations backgrounder focuses on the impact of afterschool programs on academic outcomes, student behavior and parental concerns about children's safety. A number of different types of evaluations have been conducted over the last several years, assessing various aspects of afterschool programming. The studies included in this backgrounder are just a few of the numerous evaluations of afterschool programs completed in recent years. In reviewing these studies, a few key themes emerged. The data and conclusions from these studies suggest that quality afterschool programs have a positive impact on a number of measures of student academic achievement, positively affecting behavior and discipline and helping relieve parents' worries about their children's safety. Research findings including academic and behavioral outcomes are discussed. Additional details and citation information for each study conclude the report. [For the May 2011 edition of this "Evaluations Backgrounder," see ED522626.]