Afterschool for All History

Afterschool for All is a national sign-on campaign that brings together individuals and organizations across the nation who believe that all children should have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs.  It was created to deliver a united and powerful message about the importance of afterschool programs in the lives of children, families and communities. 

Afterschool for All Partners agree that afterschool programs:  

• Provide safe, challenging, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.
• Work in collaboration with schools and community resources to offer children and youth an array of accessible and diverse services and opportunities.
• Promote positive relationships among children, youth, families and adults.
• Engage children, youth, families, schools and community partners in ongoing design, implementation and evaluation of activities.
• Invest in diverse, skilled and committed staff.

Afterschool for All evolved out of several 2003 convening’s and discussions among afterschool supporters, including Exploring Afterschool in 2010: Creativity, Improvisation, Innovation, held in February at the Getty Center in Los Angeles; the U.S. Department of Education's After School Summit held in Washington, D.C ; and Advancing Afterschool 2010: Creating a Roadmap for the Future, held at the Cantigny Conference Center in Illinois. At the Cantigny< meeting, participants expressed interest in advancing a vision of afterschool for all, and developed a set of principles about afterschool.

Afterschool for All is a project of the Afterschool Alliance.  Its development was led by a planning committee that also included:  

Academy for Educational Development

The After-School Corporation

Center for Educational Renewal

LA's BEST After School Education, Recreation & Enrichment Program

National Center for Community Education (closed)