9 Out of 10 New Jersey Residents Vote That
Afterschool Programs Are Important
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) – Nine-out-of-ten New Jersey residents believe that it is important for all school-age children to have access to safe, structured and affordable afterschool programs. According to the February 2009 statewide poll performed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute, more than two-thirds of New Jerseyans believe that access to such programs is 'Very Important.’ This is the first time a statewide poll has ever gauged the public’s perception of the importance of afterschool programs.
With such strong citizen support, one might be surprised to learn how many families struggle to find safe places for children to learn and play between the hours of 3 and 6pm – the peak time for at risk student behavior according to federal studies. In New Jersey, only 12% of the state’s 1.5 million school-aged children have access to afterschool programs. And according to the Afterschool Alliance, a national advocacy group for the field, more than 23% of these New Jersey children are left unsupervised afterschool every day.
Amidst the public polls and growing studies gauging the impact of afterschool programs on kids, educators and researchers are discovering the many positive benefits associated with afterschool programs. Independent research is demonstrating that high quality afterschool programs have a positive impact on kids in the classroom and in the community. Because of their involvement in these programs, recent studies are showing that children are more likely to graduate high school on time, be better prepared for college and learn the skills they’ll need in the 21st century workforce. By preparing children for success, and keeping them behaviorally on track, high-quality afterschool programs are saving taxpayers billions of dollars in the long run.
Due to the growing challenge of meeting the demands of standardized testing during the traditional school day, the afterschool hours are being leveraged differently to expand learning time in an effective, cost-efficient way. In addition, effective local programs are finding their place at the table as the state deals with the growing crisis around crime, high school drop outs and the need to develop a capable workforce that ensures New Jersey’s competitiveness in the global economy. Organizations like New Jersey After 3, a statewide network of afterschool programs, are demonstrating that afterschool programs produce academic gains and teach critical skills like communication, teamwork, leadership and problem solving: skills that support children in the classroom now, but also position them for success later in life.
Corporations are taking notice, and investing in these research-backed programs. Douglas Kennedy, President of Capital One Bank’s New Jersey Division, has been a vocal advocate for the value of afterschool and shares that, “We hope that other business leaders will follow our example and invest in the field of afterschool…these programs are critical to workforce development in New Jersey and serve as an essential support to hard-working families throughout the state.”
In addition to the impact on student performance and the connections to workforce readiness, research is showing that afterschool programs are playing a pivotal role in the fight against childhood obesity. New Jersey has been cited as having the highest national percentage (18%) of obese and overweight children under the age of 5, indicating a severe statewide problem according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High quality afterschool programs incorporate activities that keep kids moving and teach valuable lessons about staying fit and how to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Mark Valli, President of New Jersey After 3 commented, “The data presented here proves that New Jersey residents see the added value that afterschool programs bring to the state – they recognize that programs, like those within the New Jersey After 3 network, help keep kids safe, support working families, promote positive youth development, have a significant impact on students’ learning, and can ultimately save taxpayers billions. We hope that these results will resonate with business leaders and policy makers throughout the state to help support the growing need for more afterschool programs.”
* Please click here to view complete poll results. For a listing of afterschool programs throughout the state, please visit: www.njafterschool.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 7, 2009
CONTACT:
Shannon Boehmer
New Jersey After 3
(267) 241-5824
sboehmer@njafter3.org
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