AFTERSCHOOL IN

New Jersey

Afterschool programs in New Jersey 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 programs in New Jersey is high

Afterschool programs are supporting kids and families in New Jersey

Support for public funding of afterschool programs is widespread

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

FY2026 ALLOCATION

FY2026¹

$31,784,886

33,322 youth²

161 programs

21st CCLC support statewide

FY2027 PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET

FY2027³

$0

0 youth

0 programs

21st CCLC support statewide

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, passed into law February 3, 2026.
Calculation based on data from Department of Education 2024 report and state allocations.
President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027.

Learn more about 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Learn More about Afterschool in New Jersey

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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey.
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 New Jersey.

New Jersey 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.

Ebony Grace
New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition
208 Lenox Ave
#363
Westfield, NJ 7090
egrace@njsacc.org
https://www.njsacc.org

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

Ambassador Emeritus
Dorine Francis
NJSACC
208 Lenox Avenue #363
Westfield, NJ 07090
908-789-0259
dfrancis@njsacc.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Becca Gutwirth
YMCA of the Pines
1303 Stokes Road
Medford, NJ 08055
609-654-8225
becca@ycamp.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Darnell Scott
The Jointure
500 US Highway 22
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
908-722-1563, option 6
dscott@jointure.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Sarah Cruz
NJ 908-789-0259
sarahbcruz@gmail.com

Ambassador Emeritus
Denise Sellers
Denise Sellers
1 Sunnybrook Road, Unit A
Stratford, NJ 08084
nanasellers8@gmail.com

Ambassador Emeritus
Keith Pressey
Linden Recreation
330 Helen Street
Linden, NJ 07036
908-464-8600
kpressey@linden-nj.gov

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 Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

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.