After-School Care

The Afterschool Alliance reports that 14.3 million school-age children are responsible for taking care of themselves after school. Only 6.5 million children currently participate in after-school programs, but another 15.3 million children would participate in after-school programs if they had access to high-quality programs. Children who are unsupervised after school are at higher risk of getting poor grades, abusing drugs or alcohol, engaging in sexual activity, and becoming the victims of crime. They are also missing out on extended learning opportunities and additional opportunities to build positive relationships with caring adults in safe environments.

High-quality after-school programs can protect our children during the after-school hours, when juvenile crime hits its peak. Children who participate in comprehensive after-school programs are less likely to commit crimes or be victimized, and less likely to engage in sexual activity or use drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

After-school programs improve the attendance and academic performance of participating children. According to the U.S. Department of Education and Learning Point Associates, in the 2003–2004 school year, 45 percent of all participants in federally funded after-school programs improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades. Teachers and parents report that children who participate in after-school programs also develop better social skills and learn how to better handle conflicts. The benefits extend outside the classroom. Across the nation, communities with after-school programs have reported reduced rates of vandalism and juvenile crime.

Despite the benefits, few students have access to high-quality, affordable after-school programs. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office), the number of out-of-school programs for school-age children meets as little as 25 percent of the demand in some urban areas. Parents also have trouble locating quality programs if they live in rural areas, have a child in middle school or high school, or have a child with special needs. Furthermore, the cost of quality programs is out of reach for many families. Therefore, participation in out-of-school programs is low in some of the communities most in need.

Americans support federal funding for before- and after-school programs. According to a 2003 Mott Foundation and Afterschool Alliance poll, 90 percent of Americans agree that there should be a national commitment to making sure every child has some type of organized activity or place to go after school.

The U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is the only source of federal funds available for school districts to develop and provide high-quality after-school learning opportunities. Nearly 3,000 grants have been awarded to approximately 8,750 rural and inner-city public schools across the country, serving more than 1 million children. The No Child Left Behind Act authorized $2.25 billion for the program for fiscal year 2006, but Congress only appropriated $981 million for the program. The demand for high-quality, affordable school-based programs continues to exceed the supply, and eligibility for 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding has now been expanded beyond schools to include other public and private entities, such as community-based organizations. Competition from these entities may reduce the funding for school-based programs.

It is important to keep after-school programs in schools for a number of reasons:

• Using public school facilities is a cost-effective way to provide accessible and affordable programs.
• Transportation can be a tremendous barrier to participation in after-school programs located off-site.
• School-based programs are better able to foster collaboration between schoolteachers and after-school personnel.
• School-based after-school care improves parent involvement.

Schools currently serve students from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities and other diverse learning needs. Off-site providers of after-school care may not be prepared or equipped to do so.

National PTA supports federal and state incentives for high-quality child-care and preschool programs that are affordable and accessible; coordinated at all levels (federal, state, and local); flexible enough to provide services that reflect local needs; planned, implemented, and evaluated with parent involvement; and characterized by high standards for caregiver and teacher training as well as for health and safety.

National PTA believes that child-care programs and facilities are important in addressing the educational, nutritional, recreational, developmental, and safety needs of school-age and preschool children.

National PTA supports an increased investment in funding high-quality after-school programs that are accessible to all children and, where possible, use school facilities. National PTA urges all of its constituents and members to work with local communities to establish affordable, high-quality after-school programs.

Talking Points

• Demand for high-quality, affordable out-of-school programs is high. More than 15 million school-age children who would participate in after-school programs do not have the opportunity to do so. Parents face issues of availability as well as cost.
• The American people support a federal commitment to after-school programs. According to a 2003 Mott Foundation and Afterschool Alliance poll, 90 percent of Americans agree that there should be national commitment to making sure every child has some type of organized activity or place to go after school.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is the only source of federal funds available for school districts to develop and provide quality after-school learning opportunities. Funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program has remained stagnant for several years, while costs of after-school care and the number of eligible students has increased.