What Culturally and Community-Responsive Evaluation Looks Like in Out-of-School Time?

Out-of-school time (OST) programs are deeply rooted in community. They serve young people and families with diverse cultural identities, languages, values, and lived experiences. Yet traditional evaluation practices often overlook a critical question: Whose perspective is centered in the data we collect—and whose is left out?

Culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) offers a path forward. It asks us to rethink not just what we measure, but how we engage, interpret, and act. In OST, CRE is more than a methodological shift—it’s an ethical commitment to equity, relevance, and belonging.

This post explores what culturally responsive evaluation looks like in practice—and why it’s essential for meaningful, inclusive program improvement. We also share six actions for building more culturally responsive spaces.

What Is Culturally Responsive Evaluation?

Culturally responsive evaluation is an approach that centers context, culture, and community voice at every stage of the evaluation process. It challenges deficit-based narratives and values multiple ways of knowing—not just what can be quantified.

In OST settings, CRE recognizes that:

• Evaluation must reflect the cultural values and goals of the youth and families being served.

• Lived experience and community knowledge are valid sources of data.

• Evaluation processes must be collaborative, not extractive.

• Language, access, and trust are not side issues—they are foundational.

Putting CRE Into Practice in OST

1. Co-Design Tools with Community Members
   Rather than applying a pre-made survey or rubric, involve youth, caregivers, and community partners in designing tools that reflect what matters to them. Ask: What does “success” look like from your perspective? What outcomes are most meaningful to your community?

2. Use Culturally Aligned Data Collection Methods
   Not all youth feel comfortable with written surveys or one-on-one interviews. Consider alternatives like photo voice, story circles, collaborative art, or bilingual journaling prompts. Align methods with the ways youth naturally communicate and express themselves.

3. Honor Language and Access
   Evaluation must be accessible to non-English-speaking families, youth with different literacy levels, and participants with disabilities. This includes translated tools, visual prompts, and interpretation support—not as afterthoughts, but as part of the design.

4. Build Relationships, Not Just Instruments
   In communities where trust in institutions is low, evaluation must begin with relationship-building. That means taking time to listen, show up, and follow through. It also means hiring evaluators who reflect the communities they’re working with—or equipping local staff with tools to lead.

5. Analyze with Community, Not Just About Community
   After data is collected, bring youth and families into the meaning-making process. Ask: What themes stand out to you? What surprised you? What should change based on these insights?

6. Challenge Deficit Narratives
   Culturally responsive evaluation doesn't just collect “what’s missing”—it also uplifts assets, wisdom, resistance, and joy. It highlights cultural strengths and community leadership, rather than reducing data to gaps and problems.

Online Resources for Your Consideration

Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA): offers a wealth of resources, including research, frameworks, and professional development opportunities focused on culturally responsive evaluation. They host conferences and provide publications that delve into equity-focused evaluation practices. crea.education.illinois.edu

Cultural Responsiveness Self-Evaluation Tool by NAAEE: This self-assessment tool helps organizations evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. It guides teams through reflection on equity, diversity, and inclusion, offering a structured approach to continuous improvement. evaluation.naaee.org/tools/cultural-responsiveness-self-evaluation-tool

Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) Evaluation Toolkit: Designed to assist programs in creating evaluations that are accessible and sensitive to cultural and trauma-related factors, this toolkit provides comprehensive materials for implementing inclusive evaluation practices. ncdvtmh.org/toolkit/acrti-evaluation-toolkit

Culturally Responsive Evaluation Framework for OST: This framework offers guidance on integrating cultural responsiveness into out-of-school time program evaluations, emphasizing the importance of context and community engagement. Click Here for PDF

Culturally Specific Youth Development Programs: An Evaluation Guide. Provides insights into evaluating youth programs that are tailored to specific cultural communities, highlighting best practices and considerations for meaningful assessments. Click Here for PDF

Final Thought

Culturally responsive evaluation is not a checklist—it’s a mindset and a practice. It invites OST programs to slow down, center relationships, and ask deeper questions about whose knowledge we value and why. When evaluation reflects the culture and context of the community, it becomes a tool not just for measurement—but for healing, celebration, and growth.