Afterschool Program report
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
October 20, 2011
A new assessment of progress toward offering afterschool programs to all children who need them finds Montana is lagging behind most other states, earning just a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5.
Montana is one of 21 states to receive a 1 or 2 in the "2011 State-by-State Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Guides."
According to America After 3PM, only 12 percent of school children in Montana are in afterschool programs; while 40 percent are on their own in the afternoons; and 31 percent would participate in an afterschool program if it were available.
In terms of policy activity and funding, Montana met only two of five criteria: current state funding for afterschool programming and state oversight of federal 21st Century Community Learning Center and Child Care Development Funds. It failed to meet current law that directly supports afterschool programs.
In terms of afterschool leadership, Montana met two of five criteria: a U.S. Senator in the Senate Afterschool Caucus and a Governor's Proclamation supporting Lights On Afterschool. It failed to meet criteria of an active statewide afterschool network.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, there is no question that too many children in Montana are unsupervised and at risk after the school day ends. The hope is this report will serve as a wake-up call that Montana needs to do more to make afterschool programs available, says the Afterschool Alliance.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs.
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Story by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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