Foundations looking to make the case to policymakers about the importance of afterschool and summer learning programs now have new tools showing how the programs can benefit local communities.
Foundations looking to make the case to policymakers about the importance of afterschool and summer learning programs now have new tools showing how the programs can benefit local communities.
The National League of Cities (NLC) released three briefs for city leaders with data points about how summer learning programs can improve public safety, workforce development, and college and career readiness. Thanks to generous support from the C.S. Mott Foundation, philanthropic leaders can use this research to describe challenges their communities face and how afterschool and summer programs can provide solutions.
Workforce Development
The first brief on workforce development outlines evidence-based programs in four cities as well as economic benefits for cities investing in afterschool programs.
The brief cites that 92 percent of business executives believe Americans do not have the skills they need to do the jobs of today or tomorrow, and nearly half think Americans lack critical social-emotional skills such as communication, creativity, critical thinking and teamwork. Further, businesses spend more than $164 billion annually on employee education and training to improve workforce skills. As a solution, NLC proposes that high-quality afterschool and summer programs that promote social-emotional and foundational learning skills and engage students in hands-on, technical projects can enhance their work-related skills and in turn strengthen local workforces.
According to Bela Shah Spooner, manager of expanded learning, NLC Institute for Youth, Education and Families, “Developing a prepared, skilled and homegrown workforce attracts business and supports a vibrant and sustainable local economy.”
College and Career Readiness
The second brief on college and career readiness explains how afterschool and summer program participation leads to increased attendance and engagement in school, higher achievement and preparation of graduates who have the skills and knowledge for careers or college options, with six city examples.
In a recent study, NLC found that chronically absent students gained 15 percent fewer literacy skills and 12 percent fewer mathematics skills in first grade than their peers. And, an estimated 5 to 7.5 million U.S. students miss nearly a month of school in the year, increasing dropout rates and achievement gaps.
Afterschool programming may be a key component to turning that around. A meta-analysis of 68 afterschool program studies found that students participating in a high-quality afterschool program exhibited higher rates of school attendance and a 12 percent gain in grades and test scores over non-participants.
Public Safety
The third brief on public safety draws examples from programs in Grand Rapids and four other cities in explaining how afterschool programs “keep children safe, reduce negative behaviors that impact public safety and keep young people on track for a successful adulthood.”
In considering incidents of violence by juveniles, they are five times more likely to occur during the afterschool hours than at night or during school hours. NLC suggests that high quality afterschool programs help to prevent violence and reduce the likelihood that young people will engage in risk-taking or criminal behaviors.
Comprehensive afterschool programs with mentoring and group counseling can decrease violent crime arrests by 44 percent, and vandalism and weapons crime by 36 percent, among youth.
69 percent of police chiefs agree that afterschool programs are the most effective strategies for reducing juvenile crime.
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation provides grants to help increase the ability of under-served Kent County children to access a West Michigan overnight camp. Access Camps is designed to improve access to social and recreational opportunities that attract diverse populations.
Want more?
Read more about the three NLC briefs.
See NLC’s article on how to implement afterschool and summer learning programs in your city.
