High costs, lack of availability keeping rural children from enrolling in afterschool programs

About 3.1 million rural children would enroll in an afterschool program, if an affordable and accessible one were available in their community, says a report called America After 3PM from the Afterschool Alliance. Among rural low-income families, 44 percent would like to participate in an afterschool program, but only 14 percent do. The report also found that 45 percent of rural parents in 2014 said they wanted their child to be in a summer learning program, but only 28 percent enrolled their child in such a program.

Of those surveyed, 73 percent of rural parents said they felt being in an afterschool program would help with homework assignments, and 62 percent said it would increase STEM skills. Also, 61 percent of rural parents said afterschool programs provide children with healthy foods, 73 percent said afterschool programs keeps children physically active, 73 percent said afterschool programs give parents peace of mind knowing their children are safe and 72 percent said programs help working parents keep their jobs.

Affordability, accessibility and availability are the main barriers keeping children from attending aftershcool programs, the report found. Because the average weekly cost of rural afterschool programs is $95.80 in 2014, up from $51.86 in 2009, 59 percent of rural parents said current economic conditions made it difficult for them to afford afterschool. Overall, 46 percent of rural parents cited costs as an important reason why they didn't enroll children in afterschool.

Also, 32 percent of rural parents said afterschool programs were not available in their area, and 67 percent of rural parents "agreed that it was challenging to find an enriching environment for their child in the hours after school." Also, 46 percent of rural parents "report that they opted not to select an afterschool program because of the lack of a safe way for their child to get to and come home from the program, and 42 percent said that inconvenient program locations factored into their decision."