Afterschool Programs: Essential for Equity

Afterschool programs are essential for Ohio kids, families, and equity

Schools must engage with them

BY MICHELE RITCHLIN

When COVID-19 closed schools across Ohio in March 2020, afterschool programs didn’t miss a beat. They expanded their hours and services to provide safe space and remote learning support for students and to support schools’ virtual and hybrid educational models. Afterschool programs distributed meals, made home visits, and connected parents to health care, employment, and food assistance resources.

Now, while we continue to monitor the coronavirus variants as the school year progresses, afterschool programs will continue to be critical partners for schools and parents. The pandemic has highlighted the essential services provided by afterschool programs. Today’s students need a more robust, equitable learning environment that empowers them to realize their full potential. Afterschool is a key partner in building a stronger, more fair, and inclusive support system that kids and families need to thrive—particularly as the pandemic has left many families struggling and made inequities worse. As valuable as afterschool programs are, they have been historically underfunded in Ohio. Right now, 3 out of 4 programs across the country are at risk of losing staff or closing their doors completely, despite the ever-growing demand for them.

The Federal ARP funds are designed for “Decades of research stand school districts to partner with community based organizations to support our youth behind afterschool programs. and families in dynamic, diverse ways we have only imagined. Local districts need Studies show kids who attend support from community organizations like existing 21st Century Community them make gains in math and Learning Centers programs, local libraries, museums, science centers, and parks and reading, and improve their recreation to help provide fun, engaging, school attendance, work habits, hands-on activities for Ohio’s youth. These community organizations can also increase workforce capacity and provide positive adult mentoring for students. grades, and classroom behavior. They are less likely to repeat a Existing afterschool programs and 21st century community learning centers grade or use drugs, and more throughout Ohio have relied on these relationships for years to provide robust likely to graduate. summer and afterschool programs. You can locate a program in your district by using the Find a Program data map on our

Now more than ever, kids need the academic enrichment and creative learning opportunities that afterschool programs offer. However, more than 814,000 Ohio youth are waiting for an available spot in an afterschool program. The gaps are greatest among low-income, African-American, and Hispanic families.

Rural families also face barriers to summer and afterschool program participation. With more than 1 in 3 rural parents reporting that cost was an important factor in their decision not to enroll their child in a summer program and 1 in 5 rural parents say that summer programs were not available in their community. We know afterschool works, but youth from rural families with low incomes and families of color are more likely to miss out on afterschool due to cost, access, and lack of available programs.

Fortunately, we have a tremendous opportunity through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to fund afterschool programs that our kids and families rely on. The plan gives Ohio’s state and school district leaders decision-making power over more than $4 billion to help students recover. This means there’s potential to ensure access to afterschool for every child who wants to enroll.

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Decades of research stand behind afterschool programs. Studies show kids who attend them make gains in math and reading, and improve their school attendance, work habits, grades, and classroom behavior. They are less likely to repeat a grade or use drugs, and more likely to graduate.

Afterschool is extremely popular among families nationwide. Parents value afterschool, believe their kids benefit from it, and want public funding for programs to expand opportunities for kids in underserved neighborhoods. A recent survey found 87% of Ohio parents favor

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public funding of afterschool and summer learning opportunities, and 71% say afterschool programs help parents keep their jobs or work more hours.

The summer program at South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools, Greenview campus is an absolutely amazing and successful model that leverages school and community partnerships. This program demonstrates the partnership between school districts and community based organizations to utilize federal funds to provide structured academic enrichment for students throughout the summer. The program utilizes district teachers, student services staff, and administrators along with several community organizations that come to the Greenview Campus to provide high quality, evidence based enrichment. Partners include, but are not limited to, Making a Difference Consulting (a mental and behavioral health provider), D.A.N.C.E. Therapy©, The Phe’be Foundation (financial literacy), art, physical education, French class, and archeology. Transportation and meals are also included.

As Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Stratetic Partnerships Melissa Thompson states: “Our Superintendent, Dr. Linda N. Reid and our Board of Education believe in the importance of school-community partnerships. Therefore, including our partners in the planning and implementation of our summer program was simply an extension of the services and support they provide to our students, families and staff throughout the school year, including during remote learning in the pandemic. We are grateful for their commitment and partnership.”

Without more state and local investments, many of Ohio’s afterschool programs won’t survive. With the American Rescue Plan, we have the opportunity to forge a new future where every child is cared for, included, educated, and inspired.

The pandemic taught us that we need more places and opportunities for young people to learn, more educators, and more resources. Moving ahead, we must build on the innovations and lessons of the pandemic, especially the critical role community organizations, like afterschool programs such as the South Euclid-Lyndhurst City Schools played in supporting students and families.

We urge our legislators and district leaders to ask kids what their local program means to them, and use resources from the American Rescue Plan to address the unmet demand for afterschool programs so Ohio’s children can thrive.

Michele Ritchlin has been working in the afterschool profession since 2008. In October 2020 she was named the executive director of the Ohio Afterschool Network. Contact her via Twitter @ohioafterschool.