Analysis of After-School Program Diversity Associated with the Introduction of the Neulbom School Initiative

This study examined the operational characteristics and patterns of program diversification within the Neulbom Program across 74 elementary schools in Region A, with particular attention to differences by school size.The dataset included 1,052 tailored programs and 788 elective programs implemented during the first semester of the 2025 academic year, categorized using a 12-section framework informed by prior research and grade-level structure.A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating public datasets, administrative statistics, interviews, and non-participant observations to generate quantitative and qualitative insights.Findings showed that although tailored programs were introduced to meet the developmental needs of lower-grade students, their independent expansion remained limited, as many were operated in overlapping or integrated forms with existing elective programs.Independent tailored programs were concentrated mainly in physical education, indicating restricted diversification across subject areas.External partnership programs reduced administrative burdens and broadened student learning opportunities; however, reliance on metropolitan-level information limited efforts to assess their contribution to local program diversity.These results highlight the need for systematic evaluation of how program diversity is developed and maintained within the Neulbom initiative.Future research should develop a program diversity index, analyze duplication patterns, and assess the effectiveness and sustainability of external partnership programs to better understand their educational value.