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 and summer programs in New Jersey is high

Learn more about NJ afterschool

455k

In 2019, 454,931 children (32%) would have been enrolled in a summer program if one were available to them.

Learn more about NJ summer learning

Afterschool programs are supporting kids and families in New Jersey

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

78%

Keeping kids safe and out of trouble

88%

Giving working parents peace of mind

Learn more about the
benefits of afterschool

77%

Engaging kids in STEM learning

Learn more about STEM

85%

Helping kids build
life skills

87%

Providing kids physical activity

Learn more about afterschool
promoting healthy futures

New Jersey parents strongly support afterschool

89%

of parents support public funding for afterschool

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

TODAY

FY 2023¹

$30,736,644

in federal funds support 21st CCLC programs statewide

Afterschool Alliance's Proposed Budget

FY 2024²

$48,073,601

in federal funds could support 21st CCLC programs statewide

Afterschool Alliance's Proposed Budget vs. FY2023 Omnibus

FY 2024

+$17,336,957

more in federal funds could support 21st CCLC programs statewide compared to FY2023

FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This amount also reflects the President's FY2024 budget, which proposes flat funding for 21st CLCC and would be neither an increase nor a decrease compared to the FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Afterschool Alliance proposed $750 million increase to the FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill/President's FY2024 Proposed Budget.

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 for 2023
Dorine Francis
21st CCLC, FOCUS Hispanic Center for Community Development, Inc.
441-443 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 7102
973-624-2528 x144
dfrancis@focus411.org

Ambassador for 2023
Becca Gutwirth
YMCA of the Pines
1303 Stokes Road
Medford, NJ 8055
609-654-8225
becca@ycamp.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Darnell Scott
The Jointure
580 Old York Road
Branchburg, NJ 8876
908-722-1563, option 6
dscott@jointure.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Sarah Cruz
NJSACC: The Statewide Network for NJ's Afterschool Communities
Bloomfield, NJ 908-789-0259
sarahbcruz@njsacc.org

Ambassador Emeritus
Denise Sellers
Denise Sellers
1 Sunnybrook Road, Unit A
Stratford, NJ 8084
nanasellers8@gmail.com

Ambassador Emeritus
Keith Pressey
JTG Recreation Center
330 Helen Street
Linden, NJ 7036
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.