AFTERSCHOOL IN

Alabama

Afterschool programs in Alabama keep kids safe, inspire learning, and give working parents peace of mind. Kids discover who they are and what they love to do, make smart choices, and avoid risky behaviors.

Unmet demand for afterschool and summer programs in Alabama is high
Get the Alabama fact sheet

Download the AL afterschool fact sheet

153k

In 2019, 152,701 children (20%) would have been enrolled in a summer program if one were available to them.

Get the facts about summer learning in AL

Afterschool programs are supporting kids and families in Alabama

Kids in afterschool enjoy a wide range of benefits, and parents and families benefit too:

72%

Keeping kids safe and out of trouble

79%

Giving working parents peace of mind

Learn more about the
benefits of afterschool

68%

Engaging kids in STEM learning

Learn more about STEM

81%

Helping kids build
life skills

87%

Providing kids physical activity

Learn more about afterschool
promoting healthy futures

Alabama parents strongly support afterschool

87%

of parents support public funding for afterschool

21st Century Community Learning Centers are the only federal funded before-school, afterschool, and summer learning programs.

FY2025 ALLOCATION

FY2025¹

$21,177,196

22,202 youth²

141 programs

21st CCLC support statewide
FY2025 currently withheld by federal government

FY2026 PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET

FY2026³

$0

0 youth

0 programs

21st CCLC support statewide

The Full Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, passed into law March 15, 2025.
Calculation based on data from Department of Education 2024 report and state allocations.
President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.

Learn more about 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Learn More about Afterschool in Alabama

From a Time of Risk to a Time of Opportunity: A report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids finds that afterschool programs play a vital role in turning the hours between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. into a time of opportunity for our young people, with the 70% drop in juvenile crime corresponding with the rise in availability of afterschool opportunities across the country. Learn what the peak time for juvenile crime is in Alabama, as well as how when schools are closed but many parents are still on the job, afterschool programs are keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn, and giving working parents peace of mind. Download the fact sheet for Alabama.
National Center for Afterschool and Summer Enrichment: The National Center for Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE) in the Office of Child Care offers state level fact sheets on school-age child care funded through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Click to view the information for Alabama.
Looking for an afterschool program? Your state network has a listing of programs. Click here to view the list.

Alabama Contacts

NETWORK

AMBASSADORS

CAUCUS

VISTA

The statewide afterschool network is working to ensure that all kids have access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs.

Tracye Strichik
Alabama Extended Learning Alliance
121 N 1st Street
Gadsden, AL 35901
tracye@alabamaexpandedlearningalliance.org
https://www.alabamaexpandedlearningalliance.org

AMBASSADORS work to ensure that all kids have access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs.

Ambassador for 2025
Janie Browning
Gadsden City Schools
1026 Chestnut Street
Gadsden, AL 35901
256-549-2994
jbrowning@gadsdencityschools.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Andrea Bridges
The CARE Center
P.O. Box 51
New Hope, AL 35760
256-723-2273
abridges@thecare-center.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Bettye Anne Older
Straughn Elementary 21st CCLC
29324 Straughn School Road
Andalusia, AL 36421
334-427-1311
bettyeanne.older@cov.k12.al.us

Ambassador Emeritus
Erika Rucker
Truman Pierce Institute, Auburn University
1463 Haley Center
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-5781
eatmoef@auburn.edu

Ambassador Emeritus
Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson
Birmingham, AL 35205
mw728165@gmail.com

Since 2005, members of the Afterschool Caucus in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been building support and resources for quality afterschool programs.

Caucus members in your state:

Rep Terri Sewell (D-AL)

For the past 7 years, the Afterschool Alliance has been a proud sponsor organization for national AmeriCorps VISTA projects, supporting State Afterschool Networks and STEM Ecosystems to increase the access to and quality of enrichment opportunities for youth.

Currently there are no Afterschool VISTA locations in your state.

Tell Congress to save Alabama's afterschool programs!

Sign the petition to support afterschool!

Donate $10 to help 4 kids have afterschool