America After 3PM is a nationally representative survey of randomly selected adults who live in the U.S. and are the parent or guardian of a school-age child who lives in their household.
Some 7.8 million U.S. children participated in afterschool programs in 2019, down from a high of 10.2 million in 2010.
These 7.8 million children built social and emotional skills, got exercise, and received extra academic support. Their parents reported satisfaction with their afterschool experience. Some 85 percent agreed that afterschool programs get children more excited about learning. And 81 percent agreed that they give working parents peace of mind.
This is great news for participating families. Yet, for every child enrolled in 2019, three more – an additional 25 million students – were waiting to get in. Families in the highest income bracket spent more than five times as much on out-of-school time activities ($3,600 per year) than families in the lowest income bracket ($700 per year).
These are just a few of many findings in the fourth edition of America After 3PM, published by the Afterschool Alliance and Edge Research. The report provides an updated accounting of the activities of U .S. children between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The report compares afterschool program participation and unmet demand for 2020 with results from 2004, 2009, and 2014. It identifies trends in program offerings, parent satisfaction, and parent perceptions. It also examines participation of children from families with low income, and children of color.
Altogether, it paints an important picture of the experiences afterschool programs provide, who benefits, and who is missing out.
This report also includes findings from a nationally representative online survey of parents of school-aged children during fall 2020.The survey captures how the coronavirus pandemic affected families' needs during the hours after school.
