According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment characteristics of families’ summary, revealed in April of this year that two-fifths of all families had children under the age of eighteen; that is 34.4 million families’ of which 60.6% both parents work.1
After school programs generally begin after school lets out around three o’clock in the afternoon and end around six o’clock in the evening. These three hours that children under the age of eighteen are out of school and their guardian is still hard at work are crucial. To most, leaving their child or children at an establishment for three hours is kind of nerve racking. Parents may worry about what kind of people they are leaving their children with. The workforce at after school programs are comprised of a variety of people “youth workers, credentialed teachers, social workers and other professionals, with varying levels of education and experience.”2 Parents may find comfort in knowing that the staff is “generally well-educated.”2 In fact, “two-thirds of after school staff have a two-year college degree or higher and fifty-five percent have a four-year degree or higher.”2 Many of the staff members actually hold full-time jobs on top of working these extra hours in the afternoon/evening. These staff members say that working in the after school program gives them a sense of fulfillment.2
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“In 2015, about two-thirds (68.2 percent) of families with an unemployed member also had at least one family member who was employed, and 58.8 percent had at least one family member who was employed full time.”1 So, there are families out there that have one parent or guardian that works full-time and one that does not, so what is it that could draw that percentile in? The amazing academic benefits their child or children could receive by attending. An effective afterschool program has been shown to actually improve classroom behavior and in turn improve academic performance. 2 A national evaluation found that forty percent of children who attended a program improved in reading and math; the evaluation also showed that children who attended on a more regular basis had a better chance at continuing their scholastic improvement.2
RESOURCES
1"Employment Characteristics of Families Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22 Apr. 2016. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
2 "Benefits for Youth, Families, & Communities." Youth.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2016.
Good article; however, is there a difference in before school care and after school care? As well, what activities are included within the after school care?
ReplyDeleteI generally feel that public school can be too involved. I mean these days kids have between 7-9 periods (high school). athletics begin in the summer and kids have practices for sports during christmas break and many times spring break as well. However I've never really thought of an after school program from this prospective. you're right, many times kids end up having a few hrs that either the parents have to provide care for or the child goes unattended which can be an invitation for bad behavior. It's comforting to know we have educated people trying to provide quality programs to keep the youth on the right track.
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