Report: Georgia falling behind in after-school care
A slightly smaller percentage of Georgia children are enrolled in after-school programs than in the rest of the country, according to a report released Thursday.
The Afterschool Alliance report found 16 percent of children in this state are in after-school programs. The national average is 18 percent, according to the report. The study found 11.3 million children nationwide are unsupervised between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on school days.
The alliance believes more children need access to after-school programs and wants the federal government, state governments and other organizations to provide more money to help low-income families enroll their children in them. The average Georgia family spends about $92 a week on after-school care.
“We’ve got to have more programs in every state,” said actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a self-described “fanatic” for after-school programs.
Federal funding for after-school programs has remained largely flat over the past five years. In 2009, the contribution was $1.13 billion, the report said. For 2014, the federal contribution was $1.15 billion.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
