Afterschool Webinar:

Co-hosted by the Afterschool Alliance and the National Summer Learning Association, in partnership with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Every Hour Counts, YMCA of the USA, and Save the Children.

Across the nation, local afterschool and summer programs play a vital role in supporting our communities, the economy, and a strong workforce by keeping kids safe, inspiring learning, and helping working parents provide for their families. Federal 21st CCLC funding empowers local communities to meet student, parent, and community needs. 21st CCLC grants support 10,000 programs serving nearly 1.4 million youth. The 25-year history of these programs shows that they work. Youth who participate in programs do better in school, build critical work and life skills, avoid risky behaviors, and land better jobs with higher incomes as adults. When parents have reliable care for their kids, they are more productive on the job, and businesses benefit. 4 in 5 parents report that afterschool programs help them keep their jobs.

Speakers:

• Chris Mirabella, Office of Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Karen McCarthy, Office of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) - Welcome
• Jodi Grant, Exec. Dir., Afterschool Alliance - Moderator
• Lindsey R. Blevins, Extended Learning Coach / 21st CCLC Programs Tuscaloosa City Schools Federal Programs Department, Alabama
• Madelyn Hinkleman, South Dakota Afterschool Youth Ambassador, Class of 2023
• Christina Russell, Principal, Policy Studies Associates
• Kendal Smith, Chair, Afterschool & Summer Learning Advisory Committee, Interim Commissioner, Vermont Dept of Labor
• D.J. Hilson, Muskegon County Prosecuting Attorney, Michigan

Resources:

• 21st CCLC Data + Background: 
  • State fact sheets and 21stCCLC data: 3to6.co/PolicyStateMap
  • 21st CCLC Evaluations and Key Facts: 3to6.co/21stCCLCFacts
     
• Student Outcomes (Academic Engagement and Mastery)
  • Summary, Research on Afterschool & Summer Impact: 3to6.co/evaldata 
  • Improvements for students in high-quality afterschool programs with school-day attendance, meta-analysis of studies of 68 programs; Durlak, Weissberg & Pachan
  • NE 21st CCLC Evaluation: Significant improvement in math (75%), science (74%), reading (74%), and writing (69%) from fall to spring.
  • National Council of State Legislatures: https://www.ncsl.org/education/supporting-student-success-through-afterschool-programs
  • 91% of superintendents say that summer programs are key strategy for district goals, 2025 National Gallup Survey 
     
• Economy and Future Workforce
  • 89% of voters say afterschool is important to help parents work and support the economy, 2025 Voter Views: Afterschool a Necessity: 3to6.co/VoterPoll
  • Young adults who participated in afterschool programs earn more, have lower substance use, have fewer arrests: Fact Sheet and body of research from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, a 26-year longitudinal study
  • Virginia 21st CCLC Report: 76% of participants agreed that the program helped them learn the knowledge and skills needed to be ready for a job or career; 71% said it helped them learn what is necessary to be prepared for trade school or college
  • North Carolina Internship Study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/76KNBEUPTVQC9NIQCTJK?target=10.1002/cdq.12380
  • Georgia ROI: https://www.afterschoolga.org/return_on_investment/
  • STEM - Vermont Afterschool - https://vermontafterschool.org/stem/
  • Career Foundations Guidebook