The 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides

Each day in America, millions of kids go home to an empty house after school. In recent years, the growth of quality, affordable afterschool programs has begun to offer positive alternatives to the parents of these children. In 2009, the Afterschool Alliance released America After 3PM, sponsored by jcpenney, providing the most comprehensive and accurate picture to date of what this nation's youth are doing each day after school. Click on the map below to access state reports and news releases. Read national news release here.

In order to understand the fuller context of the America After 3PM study, the Afterschool Alliance and jcpenney teamed up yet again to provide the 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides. The Progress Reports examine Growth in Afterschool Programs, Developments in State Afterschool Policy and Funding, and Advancements in Afterschool Leadership. In addition, the Consumer Guide component offers resources on how to find the best afterschool options in the state and provides a section on "What You Can Do to Support Afterschool" to show new afterschool advocates how they can get involved.

All in all, the 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides are a succinct resource for programs, parents and advocates alike. They offer a snapshot of how each state is helping keep the lights on after school, while also presenting a guide for parents to find the quality afterschool offerings in their area and a resource for all concerned citizens.

AK|AL|AR|AZ|CA|CO|CT |DE|FL|GA|HI|IA|ID|IL|IN|KS|KY|LA|MA|MD| ME|MI|MN|MO|MS|MT|NC|ND|NE|NH|NJ|NM|NV|NY|OH|OK|OR|PA|RI|SC| SD|TN|TX|UT|VA|VT|WA|WI|WV|WY

Methodology:

Scores for the Progress Reports were devised using a range of factors falling under three major categories.

• Growth in Afterschool Participation – Data from 2009's America After 3PM survey were used to gauge how afterschool availability, support and awareness has grown in each state from 2004-2009. One point was given for each of the following:
  1. A Positive Change from 2004 to 2009 in Percentage of Kids in Afterschool Programs
  2. A Positive Change from 2004 to 2009 in Percentage of Kids in Self Care (Positive Change in this Case Represents a Drop in Percentage in Self Care)
  3. A Positive Change from 2004 to 2009 in Percentage of Parents Satisfied with their Child's Afterschool Program
  4. A Positive Change from 2004 to 2009 in Percentage of Kids Likely to Participate
  5. A Percentage of Kids in Summer Learning Programs Over the National Average of 25 Percent
• Developments in State Afterschool Policy and Funding – Current state legislation and funding activity was used gauge the extent of each state government's support for afterschool. One point was given for each of the following:
  1. State Offices Administering 21st Century Community Learning Center and Child Care Development Fund Federal Grants
  2. Current Legislation that Directly Supports Afterschool Programs
  3.  State Level Councils, Studies, Pilots or Legislative Activity Intended to Advance Afterschool 
  4. Current State Funding for Afterschool Programming
  5. An Initiative Promoting Quality Afterschool Programming
• Advancements in Afterschool Leadership – Existing support structures were used to gauge the amount of afterschool leadership in each state at the federal, state and local level. One point was given for each of the following:
  1. Governor Proclamation Supporting Lights On Afterschool in 2010
  2. The Existence of a Statewide Afterschool Network
  3. The Existence of a Governor's/State Agency Taskforce
  4. A Member of US House of Representatives from the State in the House Afterschool Caucus
  5. A Member of the US Senate from the State in the Senate Afterschool Caucus

  Each state could receive up to five points in each of the three categories above.  An overall composite score was then computed (for each state) by combining the scores from each of the three categories:

  Formula for Overall Score – (Growth in Program Participation + Developments in Afterschool Policy and Funding + Advancements in Afterschool Leadership) ÷ 3 = Score

  These scores are represented by light bulb images found atop the Progress Reports and next to each of the three subcategories.  The size of the light bulb images represents each state's score for each category.  A key is provided below and on the reports that can be used to explain the significance of each stage of the light bulb image.  Generally, the larger the energy efficient light bulb is, the better a state is doing overall or in the accompanying subcategory.