June 2000 Afterschool Alliance Poll

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

A poll of 800 registered voters conducted for the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and JCPenney by Lake Snell Perry & Associates and the Tarrance Group in June of 2000 found overwhelming public support for afterschool programs.

A strong majority of Americans want afterschool programs for youth.

• More than nine in ten registered voters (91 percent) agree that children and teens should have some kind of organized activity or place to go afterschool.
• Eighty-six percent of voters say it is important to them personally to ensure access to afterschool programs for children in their communities.
• Eighty-two percent say that afterschool programs are a necessity for their communities.

Americans believe that afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and teach academic skills.

When asked to identify the most important outcome of an afterschool program, 23 percent of voters say it helps working families, 18 percent say it provides opportunities to learn and master new skills, 13 percent say it improves academic achievement, 12 percent say it builds social skills, and ten percent say it provides a place where homework can be done.

Americans think there are not enough afterschool programs.

Three in five voters (60 percent) say that it is difficult for parents to find afterschool programs in their communities.

More than two-thirds of voters (71 percent) say that it is difficult for parents to find afterschool programs in the nation.

Americans are prepared to pay for afterschool programs..

Eighty percent of voters want the federal government to set aside specific funds for afterschool programs; 79 percent want their state government to do so; and 82 percent want school districts to do so.

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