Afterschool Alliance’s latest report in its America After 3PM series, Lost Opportunity: Afterschool in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many, offers information on the experiences and needs of children and families between 3 and 6 p.m. when the school day is done but many parents are still finishing their work day.
In addition to setting young people up for success academically and in life, after-school programs also aid working families, according to the report. But in 2025, millions of families who want to participate are missing out on these benefits.
“Of the nearly 30 million youth whose parents want after-school programs, more than three in four are missing out. That’s 22.6 million children whose parents would enroll them if a program were available,” according to the executive summary. “Comparing the breakdown of overall demand for after-school programs by income level, a clear trend appears: Low- and middle-income children are missing out. The percentage of children without access to after-school programs is highest among low- and middle-income families (84 percent and 73 percent, respectively) and is lowest among high-income families (59 percent).”
In the first large-scale report on the demand for after-school offerings post-pandemic, Afterschool Alliance, through a survey of more than 30,500 U.S. parents/guardians that took place in early 2025, found that most parents feel the programs keep children safe and out of trouble and provide opportunities for them to be physically active, build social skills and spend more time on educational activities as opposed to screens. Seventy-nine percent of respondents agreed after-school programs support students’ overall mental health and well-being and 75 percent said it builds excitement about learning, which helps improve attendance and attitudes toward school.
Additionally, four in five parents say the programs help them keep their jobs and be productive as well as reduce stress.
“Program affordability, accessibility, and availability limit participation, with choice most limited for low- and middle-income families,” the survey found. Among higher-income households, there are larger investments in out-of-school time activities, and in the last five years, spending on the activities increased “significantly.”
Overall, 95 percent of U.S. parents surveyed were satisfied with the after-school programs their children attend.
California
“In California, the demand for after-school programs is incredibly high. Parents value the benefits after-school programs provide for young people … and say after-school programs help them keep their jobs and provide peace of mind,” according to a summary specific to the state. “Ranking fourth for after-school program participation and ninth for parent recognition, California has one of the most robust state funding streams dedicated to after-school programs in the nation, allowing them to reach more than 1.1 million children and their families. Still, just a fraction of California families who want after-school programs have them.”
Parents representing more than 4 million children and youth indicated they’d want them in an after-school program but roughly seven in 10 are missing out with an unmet need of almost 2.9 million young people.
In 2025, by grade-level, K-5 was the group with the largest demand and participation followed by those in grades 6-9 and high school. Lacking a safe way to and from programs and inconvenient locations were the top factors preventing parents from enrolling their children.
Ninety percent of California parents were in favor of public funding for after-school programming.
Recommendations
Nationally, “to meet the need for after-school programs that families across the country are calling for will require concerted support from the public and private sectors, federal, state and local levels, and the public at large,” Afterschool Alliance said.
Some steps that can be taken to improve access include:
- Increasing funding for such programs
- Investing in staffing for after-school programs
- Removing barriers that prevent participation
- Aligning programs with parents’ priorities
- Building the capacity of programs
