Afterschool and Communities of Concentrated Poverty

By Sam Piha

Sam Piha

Afterschool youth programs have been serving low-income youth since the late 1800s. This is well documented in Robert Halpern’s book, Making Play Work. The History of Afterschool in America will also be the subject of a documentary video that we are working on currently. 

The Afterschool Alliance recently published a new report, America After 3PM Special Report: Afterschool in Communities of Concentrated Poverty. According to Nikki Yamashiro, Director of Research at the Afterschool Alliance, “Where you live has direct and indirect impacts on the fundamental resources and opportunities you count on, and which many people may take for granted. Your location affects the quality of schools available to you, your access to healthy and affordable food, and your overall wellbeing and future economic success.This is why the Afterschool Alliance believed it was critical to examine the role that afterschool programs are playing (or not playing) in communities of concentrated poverty.” 

Making Play Work by Robert Halpern and
History of Afterschool Project by The How Kids Learn Foundation

Key findings from the report include:

• The demand for afterschool and summer learning programs in communities of concentrated poverty is high. Both participation in and the demand for afterschool and summer learning programs is higher in communities of concentrated poverty compared to the national average. 

• Parents living in communities of concentrated poverty rely on afterschool programs. Parents living in communities of concentrated poverty looked to afterschool programs as a source of support for their family, more so than parents living outside of these communities. 

For more infographics from the Afterschool Alliance, click here.

• Afterschool programs provide integral supports for children living in communities of concentrated poverty. An overwhelming majority of parents living in communities of concentrated poverty report that their child’s afterschool program provides opportunities for physical activity (87 percent); homework assistance (81 percent); STEM learning opportunities (78 percent); opportunities for reading or writing (76 percent); and beverages, snacks or meals (75 percent).

• Key barriers exist regarding access to afterschool programs in communities of concentrated poverty. Accessibility and affordability are two major obstacles affecting the ability of parents living in communities of concentrated poverty to enroll their child in an afterschool program. 

Jodi Grant, Executive Director at the Afterschool Alliance, will share some of the findings at our upcoming How Kids Learn VI conference (San Francisco) in December.  

Visit the America After 3PM page where you can read the full report or executive summary.  

Afterschool in California and "Expanded Learning": An Interview with Jodi Grant, Part 2

By Sam Piha

Sam Piha

At the end of last year, the Afterschool Alliance released an important study entitled America After 3PM. This study included a report on the state of afterschool for every state including California. There were also reports on afterschool with African-American and Hispanic communities and a special report on summer learning.

California was declared the number one state in providing afterschool learning opportunities. Below, we cite some key findings from the California study, which can serve as a pocket guide for every afterschool program leader and advocate. We also share part 2 of an interview with Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance.

Key Findings from Afterschool in California

Participation and Costs

• 1 out of 4 children in California participate in afterschool programs, up 5% in 2009
• 31% of children in grades K-5, 29% grades 6-8 and 15% in grades 9-12 participate in afterschool programs
• Most families piece together a variety of afterschool solutions such as 66% of California’s K-12 children spend some hours in the care of a parent or guardian, 33% with non-parental adult care, 19% sibling care, and 12% in traditional child care centers
• The average weekly cost of after school programs was $126, up from the national average of $113
• The top 5 factors in a parents’ selection of an afterschool program is their child’s enjoyment, safety, knowledgeable and trained staff, convenient location, and quality of care 
• 47% of California children in an afterschool program qualify for Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program

Benefits

• 73% of parents agree that afterschool programs help children gain workforce skills
• 4 out of 5 parents agree that afterschool programs reduce the likelihood of youth engaging in risky behavior
• 72% of parents agree that afterschool programs excite children and learning
• 80% of California parents agree that afterschool programs help give working parents peace of mind about their children when they are at work; 82% agree it helps parents keep their job

Program Characteristics and Quality

• Top 5 activities/services offered include: homework assistance (81%), physical activity (80%), reading or writing (75%), STEM learning opportunities (74%), and academic programs (74%)
• 90% of parents are satisfied with their child’s afterschool program, down 9% in 2009
• 92% of parents are satisfied with the quality of care; 90% are satisfied with the safe environment

Demand and Barriers

• If an afterschool program was available, 49% of children would participate
  
• 19% of California’s children are alone and unsupervised between 3 and 6PM; 3% of children in grades K-5, 9% grades 6-8, and 44% of students in grades 9 – 12 
• The average time children spend alone and unsupervised is 6 hours a week
• Parents noted preference for alternative activities and high costs as reasons their child does not participate in California’s afterschool programs
• 86% of California parents support public funding for afterschool programs

Part 2 of an Interview with Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance

Q: California received a number one ranking in afterschool. What was this ranking based on?

Jodi Grant
Executive Director
Afterschool Alliance

A: California’s top ranking is driven primarily by the state’s strong afterschool program participation rate and the high percentage of parents satisfied with their child’s afterschool program. The state has one of the highest percentages of children in an afterschool program in the country—25 percent. That’s 7 percentage points higher than the national average of 18 percent, and 6 percentage points higher than its afterschool program participation rate in 2009.  America After 3PM also found that more than 9 in 10 California parents are satisfied with their afterschool program’s quality of care, 86 percent are satisfied with the variety of activities and 4 in 5 are satisfied with the cost of their afterschool program.  
California has made significant investments in afterschool programs over the years—funding both the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program and reserving half of the state’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal funding for the High School After School Education and Safety for Teens (ASSETs) program—as well as placing an emphasis on the quality of afterschool programs, creating the California Department of Education After School Division.  

We have seen California make great progress creating afterschool opportunities for its children, but, as in the case across the country, there are still a significant number of children in the state whose parents would enroll them in an afterschool program if one were available to them.  

Q: The term “expanded learning” is used differently by different people in different parts of the country. Can you give your definition of “expanded learning time and programs”?
A: Nearly three years ago, the Afterschool Alliance published “Principles of Effective Expanded Learning Programs”, a document that is incredibly relevant to the field and policy makers. In this document, we offer a vision of expanded learning opportunities that encompasses afterschool, summer, and expanded learning time programs. Afterschool and summer programs are well known and highly in demand across the country – half of all school age children are either in an afterschool program or would be if more programs were available.  

Expanded learning time —adding time to the school day, week or year—is a relatively new approach to expanding learning opportunities. Yet, across all the approaches to expanding learning there are essential principles of that increase the likelihood of success. At a minimum, all types of expanded learning programs should go beyond simply providing more time and incorporate successful afterschool practices: engaging students in their own education by providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities through community partnerships that build on—but do not replicate—learning that happens during the school day. 

In our “Principles” document, we define and outline the eight principles of afterschool best practices that are key to developing successful expanded learning programs.  These principles build off more than a decade of research telling us what works in afterschool and include school-community partnerships, engaged learning, family engagement, intentional programming, diverse prepared staff, participation and access, safety, health and wellness and ongoing assessment and improvement.

Likewise, the Expanded Learning and Afterschool Project, a 50-state initiative designed to harness the power of networks and leaders to help schools and communities leverage the time beyond school to accelerate student achievement also has a set of principles that closely mirror ours.  They include: school-community partnerships, engaged learning, affordability and scalability, learning time after school and during the summer, family engagement, and health and wellness. 


Q: In your mind, what is the difference between the terms “expanded learning” and “extended learning”?
A: When I hear extended learning, my attention is immediately focused on the notion of merely extending the learning that happens during the regular school day by providing more time. Advocates for expanded learning opportunities are unanimous in their agreement that more time is not enough. For example, The Ford Foundation has organized its grant making in this area around the two pillars of more and better learning time. In our “Principles” document, we reinforce how important it is not to just provide more learning time, but to significantly expand on the learning that happens during the regular school day by providing learning opportunities that too often are not available to students during the regular day. We know from our recent America After 3PM report that the idea of providing opportunities that go beyond the regular school day has appeal with parents.  Six in ten parents with children in an afterschool program report that “providing learning opportunities that are not available during the regular school day” is an important reason for selecting their afterschool program.


Q: Are you hoping that the field begins using “expanded learning programs” to replace “afterschool and summer programs”?
A: We know from years of public polling that afterschool is a term that resonates with American parents and voters.  The term expanded learning opportunities provides an organizing umbrella term to allow us to talk about the components of any effective approach to expanding learning. So, whether you call your program afterschool, summer learning, expanded time, expanded learning or any other term used in our field is a matter of preference, but how you design that program should be based on research and what works. That’s why we and others talk about principles of effective expanded learning opportunities – it’s a way to embrace all approaches and help ensure that no matter what you call your program, you are working to provide the best possible program to children, youth and families. 

America After 3PM: An Interview with Afterschool Alliance Executive Director, Jodi Grant

By Sam Piha

Sam Piha

At the end of last year, the Afterschool Alliance released an important study entitled America After 3PM. They began issuing this study in 2004. This report included key 2014 findings on the use and demand for afterschool programs and a state-by-state review of the status of afterschool. Below, we cite some key findings from the national study, which can serve as a pocket guide for every afterschool program leader and advocate. We also share part 1 of an interview with Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance.


Participation and Costs

• Nearly 1 in 4 families currently have a child enrolled in afterschool programs and its only increasing
• Parents reported spending an average of $113.50 per week on afterschool programs, an increase from $74.41 in 2009
• 1 in 5 parents survey report receiving government assistance to pay for afterschool; 25% of parents reported their program was free

Demand and Barriers

• 2 in 5 children would participate if the programs were available and more than half of all school-age children in 2014 had some measure of demand for after school programs
• 1 in 5 children spend time alone and supervised during after school hours (3PM – 6PM); 3% of elementary-aged children and 19% of middle school students  
• Demand for afterschool programs is higher among low-income families; Hispanic (29%) and African-American children (24%) are at least 2x more likely to participate than Caucasian children (12%)
• 56% of low-income households report that cost is the factor in their decision to enroll their child; 54% of low-income households report the lack of a safe way for a child to get to and come home from afterschool program as a barrier for enrollment
• 81% of parents report that their child’s enjoyment is very important in selecting an afterschool program; 71% find a variety of activities offered as very important, and 61% report physical activity as very important, 62% cite providing learning activities that are not offered during the regular school day as important
• 84% of parents report that they favor public funding for afterschool opportunities
• 7 in 10 parents surveyed agree that afterschool program should offer opportunities to explore STEM learning; 69% report that their program offers STEM

Benefits

• Afterschool programs help 83% of parents keep their jobs and gives 75% peace of mind when they are at work; this is extremely high among working mothers (80%), African-American parents (80%), and Hispanic parents (76%)
• 9 in 10 parents are satisfied with their afterschool program; 81% believe that afterschool programs provide high quality of care and 84% believe they keep kids safe and out of trouble, which is higher than previous years
• 79% of parents (88% with participation) agree that afterschool programs can help develop social skills
• 73% of parents (83% with whom children participate) agree afterschool programs reduce risky behavior
• 64% of parents (82% with parents who participate) agree afterschool program can excite children about learning
• 71% agree that afterschool program should help children develop workforce skills such as teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking
• 65% agree the programs can help children gain interest and skills related to STEM

Summer Learning

• 85% of parents indicate support for public funding for summer learning programs
• 1/3 of families report at least one child participated in a summer learning program, up from 25% in 2009
• The average weekly per-child cost of summer learning program was $250

Interview with Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance

Jodi Grant
Executive Director
Afterschool Alliance

Q: The Alliance recently published an important report entitled America After 3PM. Can you briefly describe what this report is about and who is it intended to reach? 
A: America After 3PM is the largest household survey on what children are doing between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.–after the last school bell of the day rings and before parents typically return home from work.  The goal of our survey is to not only document the number of children who are alone and unsupervised during the after school hours and the number of children who are in an afterschool program, but to quantify the need for afterschool programs in communities across the country.

America After 3PM is the opportunity to capture the information necessary to better understand what the demand for afterschool programs is, both nationally and at the state level. It is intended to serve as a resource for the afterschool field, advocates, educators, parents and policy makers, providing them with the data that can help them make informed decisions on how to best support the children and families in their communities when it comes to the after school hours. 


Q: Can you explain why the Alliance researched and published this report?  
A: We first embarked on this research back in 2004, when important questions regarding the number of children in afterschool programs, the number of children who are alone, and the number of children who want to participate in an afterschool program, but are unable to, were raised time and time again, and each time, no definitive informational source was available to answer these questions. We went into the field in 2004 to collect what would be our baseline data, and again in 2009. This year, our research and report spans a decade worth of data and builds off of what we learned through previous editions of the research. 

The report examines participation disparities by income and race and ethnicity. We also believe that the quality of afterschool programs is incredibly important, which is why we ask parents about their experience with their child’s afterschool program and report on parental satisfaction with their afterschool program, the types of activities offered in programs, and the outcomes and benefits associated with participation in afterschool programs.  
Q: Were there any surprises that came as a result of your research?
A: When we first started on America After 3PM, one of our hypotheses was that as participation in afterschool programs increased, the unmet demand for afterschool programs would decrease—a basic supply versus demand scenario. Over the past 10 years, afterschool program participation has increased by more than 50 percent–from 6.5 million children in 2004 to more than 10 million children in 2014. 

But, we found that unmet demand for afterschool programs has also seen a steady increase over the past decade, growing from parents of 15.3 million children saying they would enroll their child in an afterschool program if one were available to them, to parents of close to 20 million children in 2014.

The fact that unmet demand continues to grow while participation is also growing may be a sign that afterschool is becoming more of an expectation among parents.  

We found that this year more than half of all school-age children in the U.S. either are in an afterschool program or would be if more afterschool programs were available. That means that there are close to 30 million students who have some form of demand for afterschool programs.


Q: What do you believe is the most important takeaway from this report?
A: The most important takeaway from this report is that while we have seen much progress in the number of children and youth taking part in afterschool programs, we still have so much more work to do. For every one child in an afterschool program, two more children are waiting to get in based on parents surveyed. We need increased investments in afterschool at all levels—federal, state, local and private—to ensure that all children are able to take part in an afterschool program that keeps them safe, inspires learning and supports working families.