A 4-H curriculum from Nebraska is one of 4 evidence-based programs selected for after-school programs by Great Science for Girls: Extension Services for Gender Equity in Science through After-School Programs (GSG), a partnership led by the Educational Equity Center at the Academy for Educational Development (EEC/AED) with AED Center for Youth Development and Policy Research (CYD) and the AED National Training Institute for Community Youth Work (NTI). GSG was funded by NSF in 2006 as a 5-year initiative to build the capacity of after-school centers to delivery programming that will broaden and sustain girls' interest in STEM. The 4 evidence based programs include:
1. Wonderwise 4-H - ages 8-12 - wasdeveloped by The University of Nebraska State Museum and Nebraska 4-H Youth Development with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
2. After-School Science PLUS, for ages 6-14, was developed by Educational Equity Concepts, Inc. with funding from the National Science Foundation Program for Gender Equity and a variety of local New York City funders.
3. Girls at the Center, for ages 6-14, was developed by The Franklin Institute Science Museum in collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA, with funding from the National Science Foundation.
4. Girls Inc Operation SMART, for ages 5-6 through 18, was developed by Girls Incorporated® with funding from National Science Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Coca Cola Foundation, CREW Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Verizon Communications, Lucent Technology Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities and many others.
These programs were professionally evaluated and show positive outcomes related to girls and STEM. Other programs will be added as they meet the criteria of evidence-based programs set by the Great Science for Girls project. Those criteria are found on the web site listed above. To learn more go to:
http://gsg.afterschool.org/public/evidence_based.cfm?Size=2