The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are a critical time for children and teens, as this is the time each day that unsupervised kids are most likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. When children lack access to supervised activities or guidance after school, they are also lacking the skills needed to graduate high school and stay away from juvenile crime. But there is hope.
Study after study shows that after-school programs boost test scores, school attendance and graduation rates, while also cutting down high rates of juvenile crime. And that is why I will be joining five other mayors from across the country, as well as former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, in a national summit on after-school programs.
Today, there are over 10 million children in the U.S. who are benefitting from some sort of after-school program. Because of their participation, these children are attending school more regularly and improving their grades and test scores in core subjects. But programs like this do more than just improve grades and test scores – they also help kids make good decisions about health and give children the building blocks to be socially and emotionally responsible human beings.
Unfortunately, lack of money is a major obstacle that many families must overcome in order for their children to participate in structured programs after school. According to a 2009 report by the Afterschool Alliance, federal and state grants account for only 14 percent of after-school program funding. And right now, there is $1 billion in after-school funding on the chopping block in Congress.
When compared to children who live in middle-class and upper-middle-class families, kids who live in poverty are at a disadvantage, as are those children who speak English as a second language. After-school programs have proven to help these high-risk kids the most. These are the families who cannot afford to put their children in sports, or send them to dance or music classes. After-school programs help to level the playing field for these kids.
After-school programs show kids they are capable of learning. They help ignite an interest in studies at times when kids might be thinking of dropping out of school. They also help children find passions and skills they never knew existed. Without after-school programs, kids drop-out or find themselves behind bars; with after-school programs, kids become life-long learners.
It has been my goal since day one to make the city of Santa Ana a place where people can prosper – not just economically, but socially as well. I understand that in order for my residents to be happy, they need to feel safe. Since I took office, the city has experienced a 58 percent reduction in crime, and I believe this is in large part to being a strong advocate of after-school programs.
I am proud of the work that has been done here in Santa Ana on behalf of our children. In fact, our after-school programs are nationally recognized as the best in the nation. The Santa Ana Public Library’s TeenSpace program was among 12 after-school programs Michelle Obama recently presented with a 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.
Our Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League’s after-school students meet or exceed academic standards in reading and writing, with mathematics increasing by an average of 19 percent by the end of the school year.
A key community partner, KidWorks, serves close to 400 students from our most challenging neighborhoods in their University Starts Now after-school program. Also impressive is our Nicholas Academic Centers where 98 percent of Santa Ana youth who graduate from the program go on to higher education.
It is more critical than ever before to give our kids the opportunities needed to succeed. We need to all join together to help after-school programs keep their doors open and for even more programs to open their doors for many children in need.
Miguel Pulido is mayor of Santa Ana.