New York has greatest unmet demand for after-school programs: report
Children at New York City PS 83/PS 182 in Harlem playing soccer in 2017. lev radin / Shutterstock
New York is the state with the highest demand for after-school programs among children and families not already enrolled in one, according to a new report.
About two-thirds of the state’s youth who are not enrolled in after-school programs wish to participate in one, according to findings from the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for access to such programs. The proportion of youth with unmet interest in after-school initiatives has increased by 16 percentage points since 2014, according to the organization.
In general, that lack of access among youth interested in after-school programs is higher for Black and Latino children compared with white youth. Cost remains a major barrier to families interested in enrolling in programs, the report says, along with obstacles such as inadequate means to get their child safely to and from the program and unavailable slots.
“With more families struggling to afford and access an after-school program, unmet demand hitting an all-time high, and 94 percent of parents satisfied with their child’s after-school program, citing significant benefits and supports provided by after-school programs, it is clear there is a compelling need to increase access to after-school programs,” the report reads.