Demand For After-School Programs On The Rise
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Despite a new study that shows after-school programs in New York State are above the national curve, some parents say the city is still lagging when it comes to availability. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.If they weren't learning how to knit, playing with patterns, or doing crafts, students at an after-school program in Midtown say they'd probably be watching TV or at work with their parents.
"If I didn't come to after-school in the afternoons I would go to my mom's job because she has to work late," said New York City student Leah Robinson-Smith.
A study released Thursday by the After School Alliance found 21 percent of students in the state participate in after school activities -- up from 15 percent just five years ago. That puts New York third in the country, behind Hawaii and Arizona and just ahead of California and New Jersey. Still, nearly half of New York parents whose children are not in a program say their children would be, if only they had access.
"People are realizing that after-school is important for kids, not only for their safety but for their opportunity to have enrichment activities and more and more families want it," said The After School Corporation President Lucy Friedman.
New York has the largest city funded after school system program in the country, with more than 600 schools hosting free programs for 140,000 kids. Advocates say the city's programs are a big reason behind the state's ranking.
"We've seen after school as an important part of social service reform and education reform," said Chris Caruso of the Department of Youth and Community Development.
Meanwhile, the same study found 25 percent of kids spend the afternoons alone and another 18 percent are watched by a brother or sister.
"They are in front of the television set. They are less likely to eat well, less likely to have exercise, more likely to get into trouble," Friedman said.
But with state and city budgets being slashed, the programs may not be able to expand anytime soon.
The results released Thursday were part of the most in-depth study ever conducted on what children do in the hours after school. The national results mirror the New York results showing that while after-school participation is up, so is demand.