Most Middle School Students Are Without Access to the Afterschool Programs Their Parents Want for Them

_{From PRNewswire/ Afterschool Alliance} 

New Household Survey: Satisfaction and Support for Afterschool Programs High, But Cost and Access Are Insurmountable Barriers for Many Families with Middle Schoolers

Unmet demand for afterschool programs among parents of students in middle school (6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades) has risen sharply, even as satisfaction with programs has reached a new high. For every middle schooler in an afterschool program today, three more are waiting to get in, according to America After 3PM 2020, a new household survey. Commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance and conducted by Edge Research, the study finds that the number of middle school students who are not in an afterschool program, but whose parents would enroll them if a program were available, has grown from 4 million in 2014 to nearly 5 million today.

 America After 3PM 2020 finds that afterschool participation has dropped, with 1.8 million middle school students in programs in 2020, down from 2.3 million in 2014. It finds drops in afterschool participation among students in elementary and high school as well. The decline means more children lack essential supports that can help them succeed. It also signals that, while publicly funded afterschool programs have helped millions of students, public dollars are not nearly sufficient to keep up with demand today.

“Investments in afterschool have failed to keep up with demand, and that puts millions of children and youth at risk.”Tweet this

The study is based on responses from more than 10,000 U.S. families of middle school students. It builds on household surveys conducted in 2004, 2009 and 2014. It offers a pre-pandemic snapshot of how children and youth spend their afternoons and has significant implications for our post-pandemic world. America After 3PM also includes a separate survey of parents conducted this fall, in which two in three middle school parents report concern about whether their child is staying on track in school. More than half of these parents (55%) report stress about continuing to provide learning support if virtual school and distance learning continues.

In America After 3PM, satisfaction with programs is the highest it has ever been, with 93% of parents of middle schoolers saying they are satisfied with their child’s program (up from 89% in 2014 and 88% in 2009).

“Middle school parents say afterschool programs are doing a stellar job, helping meet many of their children’s needs and supporting their families as well. But investments in afterschool have failed to keep up with demand, and that puts millions of children and youth at risk. The pandemic is exacerbating the struggles,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant.

“A large body of evidence indicates the critical role of middle school in determining a young person’s long-term academic trajectory. Quality afterschool programs help middle school students successfully transition from 8^th to 9^th grade and position them for long-term success and a brighter future,” said Marlyn Torres, senior program officer, New York Life Foundation. “In addition, these programs provide benefits that extend beyond academics, helping develop the whole young person—socially, and emotionally. All middle school youth, especially youth in marginalized and under-resourced communities, need access to the important enrichment opportunities and resources afterschool programs provide.”