Think afterschool programs are just an easy way to keep your child occupied for an extra hour afterschool? Think again: many studies show that afterschool programs can benefit your child in a variety of ways including improved behavior, better grades, and higher scores on standardized tests.
According to this article from the Afterschool Alliance, participation in afterschool activities can result in various academic and behavioral improvements.
For example, students attending Los Angles’ BEST afterschool program reported higher aspirations for finishing school and attending college. They were also 30% less likely to get involved in criminal activities than their peers who do did not participate in the program.
Afterschool programs can also improve students’ grades and classroom performance. North Carolina’s Young Scholars Program found that the number of participating Young Scholars who received A’s and B’s increased by 38% and the number of students who received F’s decreased by an average of 50%!
And finally, afterschool programs can be very convenient for working parents. Studies show that parents who are concerned about their children’s afterschool care miss an average of eight days of work per year. This costs businesses up to $300 billion each year.
