The supply of afterschool programs cannot keep up with the demand from parents, according to a recent report, leaving schools and students in a precarious spot that advocates and officials say will take a community effort to solve. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The report from Afterschool Alliance found the parents of almost 30 million children nationwide want access to afterschool programs, but only 7 million are currently enrolled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While 95 percent of parents who can enroll their students in an afterschool program are satisfied with their experience, school officials and advocates say cost is the biggest barrier to making these initiatives available to every student who needs it. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Rahsheem Hollis, a high school assistant principal of a vocational technical high school in Delaware, said the cost of afterschool programs often comes from other parts of the budget, making it a challenge for the much-needed sports and other curricula given to students after hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to have materials for the kids. If we pull from our regular budget to provide for afterschool programming, it takes away from the other aspect of education that needs to be taken care of as well. So, I think the thing about it is, right now, we just need more support, funding wise, for after school programming,\u201d Hollis said. \u00a0<\/p>\n
His school offers a variety of afterschool activities, which he says is imperative to keeping students from engaging in discouraged activities after hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we want to see students and people excel, we have to make the investment,\u201d Hollis said. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Four in 10 parents say their community lacks afterschool programs, according to the report, and 56 percent cite cost as a reason their child is not enrolled in a program if it is available. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Afterschool programs have always been popular but received a particular boost during the pandemic and have kept elevated interest levels since.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat news, these programs are doing exactly what they’re meant to do. The bad news is, and this didn’t really surprise us, is that demand continues to grow, and that for many parents … we always knew this was a struggle for some of our low income parents, but as costs have continued to rise, it’s a bigger struggle for our middle income parents,\u201d said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis gap that’s grown, where parents that can afford it are now spending nine times as much on out of school time activities for their kids as low income parents. It is really startling and scary,\u201d Grant added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her group says urban students are more likely to have unmet afterschool needs, compared to their suburban or rural counterparts.<\/p>\n
More than half of Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American children not in an afterschool program would be if they had access to one, compared to 43 percent of white students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Advocates and officials say only a combination of federal, state and local support can bridge the gap.<\/p>\n