蜜桃影视

For every child in an afterschool program in the U.S., three are waiting for a spot, according to new data released Tuesday. And the demand for programs has increased by 60 percent since 2004.

More than half of the 31,000 respondents to the Afterschool Alliance鈥檚 survey said cost is what鈥檚 keeping their children out of afterschool programs, which average about $100 per week. The results show higher-income families spend roughly $3,600 per year on out-of-school-time activities, compared to $700 per year for low-income families. A lack of transportation and available programs in their neighborhoods were other common barriers.

The 7.8 million students enrolled in afterschool programs represent the lowest participation since 2009, down sharply from a peak of 10 million students in 2014. And fewer students from low-income households are involved: 2.7 million this year, compared to 4.6 million six years ago.

The report identifies California, Florida and Missouri among the 10 states with greater participation rates. The top states also serve more low-income children and have higher parent satisfaction rates. Nationally, the survey also shows that almost 80 percent of parents say afterschool programs allow them to remain employed or work longer hours.

The new data comes as providers that have traditionally offered their services after 3 p.m. on school days are expanding their programs to become hubs and pods for students during remote learning. Others, such as After-School All-Stars in Washington, D.C., have ramped up virtual classes 鈥� including tutoring, visual arts, cooking, and dance 鈥� to provide students with additional activities after their distance learning time.

鈥淚 think we are playing a huge role right now,鈥� said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Alliance. She added that as long as schools remain closed or partially open because of the pandemic, the need for learning centers and hubs will continue 鈥渁s we enter recovery.鈥�

In November, the Alliance released from 1,445 providers showing the percentage of afterschool programs that are open in person has grown since the beginning of the pandemic, from 19 percent in the spring to 68 percent now. In addition, a quarter have extended their schedules to accommodate families during school hours.

They include United Playaz in San Francisco, a violence prevention and enrichment program that offers six pods, each with 14 students, across three sites. The hubs run all day, and staff members also help prepare meals, deliver groceries to families, and troubleshoot school technology issues, said Heather Phillips, director of programs.

鈥淛ust like our students, staff sometimes struggle with how strange this time is,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hings like pajama day, decorating their pod spaces, and even selecting a student of the week 鈥� help the situation feel more like a 鈥榥ormal鈥� school year.鈥�

The program sets an example for how to 鈥渢hink about extended learning time beyond the walls of school,鈥� said Stacey Wang, CEO of the San Francisco Education Fund.

But because of the pandemic, many providers still don鈥檛 have access to in-person spaces. In Connecticut, Before and After School Extended Services, or BASES, is normally a school-based program that runs in seven school districts. The program adjusts its hours depending on whether school districts operate in-person, virtually, or a hybrid of the two.

鈥淭he superintendents have struggled with the optics of closing schools but allowing a program to come into the school anyway,鈥� said Sarah Moran, department director for BASES. 鈥淭his is a challenge for us. We have enough staff that want to work but we have not been able to consistently provide hours.鈥�

Federal support uncertain

Advocates have also focused their attention on Washington, asking for flexibility in the hours that federally funded programs can operate and lobbying for additional money to serve more low-income children and help providers stay in business.

In September, the U.S. Department of Education issued a allowing programs funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to operate during school hours as long as buildings are closed.

But advocates want Congress to replace the waiver with legislation. In September, the House passed the , which would replace the waiver process.

In the Senate, Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota have introduced that would allow the same flexibility, but also add $1.2 billion for additional staff, rental space and other expenses incurred during the current crisis. The bill is now in the Senate education committee. Advocates have called for in funding for afterschool programs to accommodate families during this unpredictable school year.

Providers say they also want to be more involved in discussions related to reopening schools.

鈥淚 understand the school system is really focused on teaching kids and the academic burden in a digital time is heavy,鈥� said Daniela Grigioni, executive director of After-School All-Stars in Washington, D.C. 鈥淏ut there is no inclusion, cooperation, or consideration for the out-of-school-time sector. We have more capacity for service, 鈥� deep community roots and outreach, and could do more given the chance.鈥�

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