Benefits of Afterschool

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Afterschool programs support student growth and learning.

Regular participation in high-quality afterschool programs has been found to contribute to higher student achievement, including significant gains in standardized test scores, grades, and work habits.

Afterschool program participation increases engagement in school-day learning, resulting in higher school day attendance rates, an increased motivation to learn, and a decrease in problem behaviors, including fewer suspensions.

Afterschool programs help close the opportunity gap between high and low-income students, allowing all students access to the arts, sports, hands-on science and technology, and other enrichment activities that stimulate learning and build character.

Afterschool programs keep youth safe and reduce negative behaviors.

The hours from 3 pm to 6 pm are the hours of highest risk for youth to commit a crime or be a victim of a crime.

Afterschool program participation leads to a decrease in negative behaviors including a decline in the use drugs, alcohol, and participation in gang and other criminal activities, when compared to non-participating students.

A single day of in-patient treatment for an opioid dependency can cost almost as much as New York State pays to provide a year in an afterschool program for one at-risk student.

Afterschool programs help working families.

New York families pay an average of $11,128 per child for child care after school. New York State can fund high-quality afterschool programs for $1,500 per child.

Parents miss an average of eight days of work per year due to a lack of afterschool care. Decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about afterschool care costs businesses up to $300 billion per year.

Read additional research about the benefits of afterschool programs here.

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