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Make the case for afterschool STEM this election season

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Make the case for afterschool STEM this election season

By Leslie Brooks Posted: Oct 30, 2026

With Election Day less than a month away, candidates at every level are talking about jobs, the economy, and how to prepare young people for the future. Afterschool STEM belongs in that conversation. STEM occupations are projected to grow by more than 7% by 2035, more than twice the rate of other fields, and 77% of parents say afterschool programs help children gain interest and skills in STEM and computer science. A record 92% of parents report that their child’s afterschool program offers STEM learning, yet more than three in four kids whose parents want them in a program are missing out.

Research shows that high-quality afterschool STEM programs improve academic outcomes, increase college and career readiness, and foster positive youth development. When you meet candidates at forums, town halls, or on the campaign trail, it is important to have the data and the right messages to show why afterschool STEM is essential for our youth, communities, and future workforce.

Our afterschool STEM election toolkit can help. It brings together key data, suggested talking points for candidates, and examples from the field, like Scientiae's AI literacy programming and the Gary Comer Youth Center's career-connected learning.

How to use the Making the Case Toolkit:

1. Review

  • Read the STEM talking points for candidates to get familiar with the core messages: Afterschool STEM inspires youth, builds STEM identity, and reaches young people who are often left out.
  • Share the page with your team and discuss which points best reflect your program's impact.

2. Tailor

3. Engage

  • Use the toolkit's resources to ask questions at forums and invite candidates to visit your program.
  • Leave a copy of your tailored talking points so candidates and their staff can refer back to them and know how to reach you. To reinforce your stories and data, download a copy of your state’s America After 3PM STEM fact sheet and give it to the candidate and their staff.

With your data, stories, and talking points in hand, make sure every candidate on your ballot knows that supporting afterschool means supporting STEM learning and a stronger future for our communities.

Visit the afterschool STEM election toolkit for more tools to engage candidates, mobilize supporters, and maintain momentum after the election. Sign up to get the latest afterschool and summer learning policy updates in your inbox.

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