September 2000 Alliance Poll of California Voters

CALIFORNIANS SUPPORT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

A poll of 800 registered California voters in September of 2000 found overwhelming public support for afterschool programs. Lake Snell Perry & Associates and the Tarrance Group conducted the survey for the Afterschool Alliance with funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and JCPenney.

A strong majority of Californians want afterschool programs for youth.

More than nine in ten registered voters (92 percent) agree that children and youth should have some kind of organized activity or place to go everyday afterschool.

Voters support afterschool programs in these overwhelming numbers regardless of whether they have children at home, whether their children are currently enrolled in afterschool programs or whether they are home for their children after school.

Californians believe afterschool programs are vital to them personally and to their communities.

Eighty-six percent of voters say it is important to them personally to ensure access to afterschool programs for all children.

Eighty-three percent of Californians say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.

• Eighty-eight percent of voters in the Inland Empire say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.
• Eighty-eight percent of voters in the Los Angeles County say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.
• Eighty-six percent of voters in Orange County say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.
• Eighty-four percent of voters in San Diego say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.

Californians are prepared to pay for afterschool programs.

Seven in ten voters (71 percent) are willing to use additional taxpayer money to put afterschool programs in their communities.

Three in five voters (62 percent) are willing to pay $100 more per year in state taxes to pay for afterschool programs.

Three-quarters of voters (74 percent) favor using the state budget surplus to pay for afterschool programs throughout the state.

Californians want government to take a role in developing afterschool programs.

Seven in ten voters (69 percent) think that state government should play a medium to major role in helping to develop afterschool programs.

Californians believe there are not enough afterschool programs.

Six in ten voters (59 percent) say that there are not enough afterschool programs in their communities. An additional two in ten (18 percent) do not know if there are enough afterschool programs in their communities.

Californians believe that afterschool programs help working families and provide opportunities to learn.

When asked to identify the most important outcome of an afterschool program from a list of options, voters' top four choices are that afterschool programs: help working families, provide opportunities to learn and master new skills, improve academic achievement and provide a place where homework can be done.

• 21st CCLC is the only federal funding source focused solely on increasing the supply of afterschool programs.
• 21st CCLC grant money allows programs to link together other streams of federal funding like literacy, service learning, USDA afterschool snack money, and TANF funds as well as programs in Justice, Treasury and many others.
• 21st CCLC grant money allows programs to leverage and link together state funding streams that can lead to sustainable programs.
• 21st CCLC grant money allows programs to leverage local funds through partnerships with community-based organizations and local public agencies that use the federal funds for match requirements or to demonstrate diversified funding to attract more resources.