The Potential of After-School Programs

Keeping Children on the Right Track

Preventing Crime, Juvenile Delinquency, and Violent Victimization

The rate for juvenile crime peaks in the after-school hours. About 10 percent of violent juvenile crimes are committed between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Children are also at a much greater risk of being the victim of a violent crime (murder, a violent sex offense, robbery, or assault) after the school day, roughly 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

By offering children rewarding, challenging, and age-appropriate activities in safe, structured and positive environments, after-school programs help to reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency and insulate children from violent victimization.

Preventing Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use

"Latchkey" children are at a substantially higher risk for risk-taking behavior, including substance abuse. Youth ages 10-16 who have a relationship with a mentor, an important component of a quality after-school program, are 46 percent less likely to start using drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking alcohol.

After-school programs can provide youth with positive and healthy alternatives to drug, alcohol and tobacco use, criminal activity, and other high-risk behaviors during the peak crime hours after school.

Decreasing the Amount of Television Watched

The most common activity for children after school is watching television. After school and in the evenings, children watch, on average, about 23 hours per week of television. Quality after-school programs offer children and youth enjoyable alternatives to television watching during the after-school hours in environments filled with opportunities to learn and grow.

Enhancing Children’s Academic Achievement

Improving Children’s Grades and Academic Achievement

Young people attending formal after-school programs often spend more time in academic activities and in enrichment lessons than do their peers left unsupervised after school. Children whose out-of-school time includes 20-35 hours of constructive learning activities do better in school.

Studies indicate that students in after-school programs show better achievement in math, reading, and other subjects.

Increasing Children’s Interest and Ability in Reading

Quality after-school curricula expose children to an environment rich in language and print. Quality, research-based tutoring programs also produce improvements in reading achievement.

Tutoring can also lead to greater self-confidence in reading, increased motivation to read, and improved behavior.

Improving School Attendance, Increasing Engagement in School, and Reducing the Dropout Rate

After-school programs can help children develop greater confidence in their academic abilities and a greater interest in school, both of which have been shown to lead to improved school attendance and completion rates. Students who spent even one to four hours a week in extracurricular activities were 60 percent less likely to have dropped out of school by 12^th grade than their peers who did not participate.

Increasing Homework Quality

The structure of an after-school program can make homework part of students’ daily routine. This can contribute to children in after-school programs completing more and better-prepared homework because of their participation.

Increasing Aspirations for the Future

By giving children role models and the tools they need to succeed in school, after-school programs can help children realize their full potential.

Supporting Children’s Social Development and Their Relationships with Adults and Peers

Improved Behavior in School

Research shows that children who participate in after-school programs behave better in class, handle conflict more effectively, and cooperate more with authority figures and with their peers.

Better Social Skills

The after-school environment allows children to interact socially in a more relaxed atmosphere. Research shows that children with the opportunity to make social connections in after-school hours are better adjusted and happier than those who do not have this opportunity.

Improved Self-Confidence

Youth organizations have indicated that the single most important factor in the success of their programs is the relationship between participants and the adults who work with them. Programs can provide the opportunity for youth to gain self-confidence through development of caring relationships with adults and peers.

Strengthening Schools, Families and Communities

More Effective Use of Funding

After-school programs can help school districts save money over the long term because of decreased student retention and special education placements. Where there is a decrease in juvenile crime due to a program, communities also save resources.

Many after-school programs depend on and draw upon parent and community volunteers. Research show that when families are involved in schools, students do better. Educators can also expect that when family and community members make an investment in an after-school program, they will be more interested and involved in their own children’s learning, in the learning of all children in the program, and in the life of the school as a whole.