An Evaluation of KidSingers’ After School Program

Anita L. lannucci, Ph.D.

Center for Statistical Consulting, University of California, Irvine

The most striking finding from the KidSingers After School Program evaluation was the significant increase in the students' self-esteem, as measured by a standard psychological instrument, especially for the participants from larger households. Additionally, most of the participants (about 85%) said that KidSingers helped them to become more confident about themselves and helped them to learn to respect people from other cultures. About two-thirds reported feeling more confident speaking in class because of KidSingers. Virtually all students reported having learned new music, performed music in front of a live audience, made new friends, and visited new places because of KidSingers. Additional findings included that students reported joining KidSingers primarily because they liked singing and wanted to visit new places and that days they were not in KidSingers most simply went home after school (45%).

In slightly more detail, the evaluation showed that:
 

• The participants' self-esteem increased significantly during the year (for both the SEI Total and the General Self scale).

• The participants from larger households showed considerably more improvement during the year on self-esteem than the participants from smaller households (statistically significant for the SEI Total score, General Self scale, and Home-Parents scale).

• 87% reported that KidSingers helped them to become more confident about themselves.

• 85% reported having learned to respect people of other cultures because of KidSingers.

• 65% reported more confidence speaking in class because of KidSingers.

• Fifteen percent reported feeling more confident about themselves as among the top two things they liked best about KidSingers.

• All, or virtually all, reported having learned new music, performed music in front of a live audience, made new friends, and visited new places because of KidSingers.

• 76% reported joining KidSingers because they liked singing and 34% reported that they wanted to sing at/visit new places (they were allowed to select two responses).