The demand is high for after school programs in the United States, and the After School Alliance has new findings with their newly released report, America After 3PM.
The demand is high for after school programs in the United States, and the After School Alliance has new findings with their newly released report, America After 3PM.
This report spans a decade of data to understand how children spend the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. It also highlights the trends of after school program participation, documents the benefits associated with participation in after school programs and measures public support for after school programs. Here are 5 key findings from America After 3PM:
- 10.2 million U.S. children (18%) are in an after school program.
- Another 19.4 million children (2 in 5) would participate if a program were available.
- 1 in 5 children spend time alone and unsupervised after school.
- 89% of parents are satisfied with their child’s after school program.
- 3 in 4 parents agree that after school programs help give working families peace of mind about their child when they are at work.
While the report shows an increase in the number of children in after school programs and positive feelings regarding the benefits of after school, it also indicates a need for more affordable, high-quality programs. Millions of children are missing out on quality care, enriching learning opportunities and access to a safe environment after school. To read the full report, visit http://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/.
