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 currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. 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.
