The Decline of After-School Programs Poses Risks to Kids
Do you know what your child is doing when the school bell rings at the end of the day? More than 14 million students leave school every afternoon and have nowhere to go, since they do not have access to affordable, after-school opportunities. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC), nine out of ten Americans think all youth should have access to after-school programs, but two-thirds of parents say they have trouble finding programs locally. The bad news is that the situation may be getting worse.
After-school hours are the peak time for juvenile crimes and risky behaviors, including alcohol and drug use. NYVPRC found that children who do not spend any time in after-school activities are 49 percent more likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more likely to become a teen parent. Kids are also at the highest risk of becoming a victim of violence after school, particularly between the hours of 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The highest amount of juvenile crime occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., the hour after most children are dismissed from school.
The NYVPRC defines after-school programs as safe, structured activities that convene on a regular basis in the after-school hours and offer children opportunities to learn new skills. The skills students learn can range from technology and math to reading and art. Some programs also offer opportunities for internships, community service, or mentoring. These programs have been shown to improve academic achievement, as well as relieve the stresses on working families. According to the NYVPRC, most experts agree that after-school activities can serve as important strategies for youth violence prevention and intervention, and can also help students develop into responsible adults. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S Department of Justice shows that students in after-school programs have fewer behavioral problems and more self-confidence, and can handle conflicts better than students who are not involved with these programs. In addition, according to the Harvard Family Research Project, after-school programs help students from low-income families overcome the inequities they face in the school system. Many after-school programs receive public funding from the governmental organization 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), which helps provide lower-income students with opportunities for after-school activities they wouldn't otherwise have access to. However, the Bush administration has included a proposal to cut funding for after-school activities by $281 million, or 26 percent, for the 2009 budget. This has sparked an outpouring of letters, emails, and phone calls to Congress. Tens of thousands of students, parents, and community members have been showing their support for after-school funding, insisting that it is essential to communities across the nation.
In March 2008, the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education held a hearing titled "After School Programs: How the Bush Administration's Budget Impacts Children and Families." Representatives from the Harvard Family Research project spoke in support of 21st CCLC and after-school program funding. Although the Subcommittee on Labor increased funding by $150 million last year, the U.S. Department of Education still had to deny 1,000 proposals for after-school funding. This gap shows a need that is almost double what the available resources are. According to the After School Alliance, the President's proposal would essentially reverse this increase in funding and undermine the structure of 21st CCLC. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations have started to promote after-school programs, but the need for programs isn't anywhere close to being met. According to NYVPRC, more than 28 million school-aged children have parents who work outside the home, and that number will only grow in the coming years. Some may think that only elementary-aged children need supervision during after-school hours, but studies show that after-school programs benefit children of all ages. As of September 2008, the Bush administration's proposed funding cut to 21st CCLC has not yet been voted on, but it remains a hot topic in the 2008 presidential race. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has proposed a plan to double the funding to 21st CCLC, a change that would help to service at least a million more children.
Overwhelming evidence shows that after-school programs benefit children. Not only do they develop critical traits that prepare kids for adulthood; they also help to keep them safe by reducing the number of unsupervised kids after school. The After School Alliance is dedicated to reminding lawmakers how important it is for children to have somewhere to go after the school doors close. Their health and safety depend on it.
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