AFTERSCHOOL IN

Massachusetts

Afterschool programs in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts is high
Get the Massachusetts fact sheet

Download the MA afterschool fact sheet

290k

In 2019, 290,064 children (29%) would have been enrolled in a summer program if one were available to them.

Get the facts about summer learning in MA

Afterschool programs are supporting kids and families in Massachusetts

Kids in afterschool enjoy a wide range of benefits, and parents and families benefit too:

77%

Keeping kids safe and out of trouble

86%

Giving working parents peace of mind

Learn more about the
benefits of afterschool

77%

Engaging kids in STEM learning

Learn more about STEM

80%

Helping kids build
life skills

73%

Providing kids physical activity

Learn more about afterschool
promoting healthy futures

Massachusetts parents strongly support afterschool

88%

of parents support public funding for afterschool

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

FY2025 ALLOCATION

FY2025¹

$20,050,205

21,020 youth²

130 programs

21st CCLC support statewide
FY2025 currently withheld by federal government

FY2026 PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET

FY2026³

$0

0 youth

0 programs

21st CCLC support statewide

The Full Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, passed into law March 15, 2025.
Calculation based on data from Department of Education 2024 report and state allocations.
President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026.

Learn more about 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Learn More about Afterschool in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts.

Massachusetts 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.

Ardith Wieworka
Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership
6 Beacon St
Suite 312
Boston, MA 2108
awieworka@massafterschool.org
https://www.massafterschool.org

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

Ambassador Emeritus
Arthur Pearson
Thompson Island Outward Bound
52 Lewis Road
Belmont, ME 02478
617-771-6297
arthur.n.pearson@gmail.com

Ambassador Emeritus
Jennifer Reth
CASA
45 Pauline Street
Winthrop, MA 02152
jreth0224@gmail.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:

Rep Richard Neal (D-MA)

Rep Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

Rep Jim McGovern (D-MA)

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.

Tell Congress to save Massachusetts's afterschool programs!

Sign the petition to support afterschool!

Donate $10 to help 4 kids have afterschool