AFTERSCHOOL IN

Arkansas

Afterschool programs in Arkansas 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 Arkansas is high
Get the Arkansas fact sheet

Download the AR afterschool fact sheet

86k

In 2019, 86,454 children (17%) would have been enrolled in a summer program if one were available to them.

Get the facts about summer learning in AR

Afterschool programs are supporting kids and families in Arkansas

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

69%

Keeping kids safe and out of trouble

83%

Giving working parents peace of mind

Learn more about the
benefits of afterschool

61%

Engaging kids in STEM learning

Learn more about STEM

81%

Helping kids build
life skills

64%

Providing kids physical activity

Learn more about afterschool
promoting healthy futures

Arkansas parents strongly support afterschool

89%

of parents support public funding for afterschool

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

FY2024 ALLOCATION

FY2024

$12,248,644

12,841 youth¹

71 programs

21st CCLC support statewide
FY2025 currently withheld by federal government

FY2026 PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET

FY2026²

$0

0 youth

0 programs

21st CCLC support statewide

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 Arkansas

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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas.
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 Arkansas.

Arkansas 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.

Laveta Wills-Hale
Arkansas Out of School Network
1501 North University Ave.
Suite 465
Little Rock, AR 72207
lwillshale@astate.edu
http://www.aosn.org

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

Ambassador Emeritus
Ben Rediske
SOAR Afterschool Program
922 E. Emma Avenue
Springdale, AR 72764
479-347-8232
ben@soarafterschool.com

Ambassador Emeritus
Diana Gonzales Worthen, PhD
OneCommunity
614 E. Emma Avenue, Suite M414
Springdale, AR 72764
479-310-5708
dgworthen@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:

Sen John Boozman (R-AR)

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 Arkansas's afterschool programs!

Sign the petition to support afterschool!

Donate $10 to help 4 kids have afterschool