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

Learn more about AR afterschool

86k

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

Learn more about AR summer learning

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

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benefits of afterschool

61%

Engaging kids in STEM learning

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81%

Helping kids build
life skills

64%

Providing kids physical activity

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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.

TODAY

FY 2023¹

$12,727,124

in federal funds support 21st CCLC programs statewide

Afterschool Alliance's Proposed Budget

FY 2024²

$19,905,839

in federal funds could support 21st CCLC programs statewide

Afterschool Alliance's Proposed Budget vs. FY2023 Omnibus

FY 2024

+$7,178,715

more in federal funds could support 21st CCLC programs statewide compared to FY2023

FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This amount also reflects the President's FY2024 budget, which proposes flat funding for 21st CLCC and would be neither an increase nor a decrease compared to the FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Afterschool Alliance proposed $750 million increase to the FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill/President's FY2024 Proposed Budget.

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

Ambassador Emeritus
Rennell Woods
At-Risk American Male Education Network AAMEN
1700 E. Johnson Ave Suite E
Jonesboro, AR 72401
870-802-4302
rennellwoods@yahoo.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.