NY Ranks Third in the Nation for After-School

Comparatively strong participation in after-school programs by New York youth, along with high satisfaction rates among their parents, has landed the state in the Afterschool Alliance's newly named "Top 10 States for Afterschool" list. The ranking is based on data from the landmark America After 3PM study, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. It is being released in conjunction with Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide rally for after-school
set for October 22.

America After 3PM found:

• 21 percent of New York schoolchildren are enrolled in after-school programs, compared to 15 percent of kids in the nation. In 2004, 15 percent of New York kids were enrolled in after-school programs.
• 25 percent of the state’s schoolchildren are on their own in the afternoons, down from 27 percent in 2004. Another 18 percent are in the care of their brothers or sisters, up from 12 percent in 2004.
• 46 percent of parents whose kids are not already in after-school say they would enroll their kids in a program if one were available – up from 30 percent of parents in 2004.
• 83 percent of New York parents say they are satisfied with the afterschool program their child attends.

"The tremendous progress in New York State shows what we can achieve when policymakers, foundations, nonprofit organizations and leaders at all levels of government work together to create sustainable systems of after-school programs," said Lucy N. Friedman, president of The After-School Corporation and Co-Chair of the New York State Afterschool Network Steering Committee. "We urgently need to build on this momentum to help children and families who have no access to programs at this moment of great need for families. We look to all sectors – from the business and philanthropic communities to government leaders – to work with us to expand after-school opportunities."

• Read the New York State press release
• Read a fact sheet on New York State
• Read a full analysis of New York and the other Top 10 states

"Top 10 States for Afterschool in 2009":
Hawaii
Arizona
New York
California
New Jersey
Virginia
New Mexico
Florida
Texas
North Carolina