Photo credit: hechingerreport.org
Challenges Facing After-School Programs Amid Funding Cuts
CLEVELAND — In a vibrant cafeteria at Clara E. Westropp School of the Arts, children aged 6 and 7 engaged in a creative challenge. They were tasked with constructing a structure out of toothpicks and gummy bears that could withstand the weight of a notebook.
This activity was not just a fun distraction; it was designed to enhance their teamwork, planning, and resilience skills. However, resisting the temptation to snack on the gummy bears proved to be an additional test of self-control.
First-grader Zayden Barnes couldn’t help but sniff a blue gummy bear, commenting on its enticing scent. His classmate Mia Navarro shared similar sentiments, finding it hard to resist the allure of the green gummy bear she held in her hand.
This hands-on lesson in engineering and impulse management is part of an after-school initiative run by Horizon Education Centers, a nonprofit organization. Such programs are increasingly rare in Cleveland, a city grappling with one of the highest child poverty rates among large urban areas in the United States.
During the previous year, Horizon, along with other nonprofit after-school providers, catered to over 7,000 students in Cleveland public schools, thanks to $17 million in pandemic recovery funds. However, as that financial support expired, many nonprofits were forced to cut back their operations, reducing staff and enrollment. Horizon has now scaled back its presence from five schools to just one.
This trend mirrors challenges faced nationwide, as after-school programs find it difficult to replace the billions lost when federal relief funding ended. While some states have implemented measures to address the shortfall, Ohio has not stepped in to fill these gaps. Many after-school advocates are apprehensive that further reductions are imminent, especially with ongoing budget-cutting initiatives by the current administration, focusing on downsizing government expenditures.
After-school programs are crucial to the fabric of American society, providing a safe space for nearly 8 million students — approximately 14 percent of school-aged children — while their parents are at work. These programs offer essential services like homework assistance, nutritional meals, and engaging activities, although they are sometimes fee-based.
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Well-implemented after-school programs not only bolster academic performance but also foster social and emotional development, enhance school attendance, and lower the likelihood of substance abuse and criminal behavior. In some instances, these programs have been linked to improved grades and standardized test results.
Despite their importance, after-school programs have long suffered from insufficient funding, workforce shortages, and inconsistencies in quality. Low-income families frequently encounter difficulties in accessing affordable options, leaving many children on waitlists for better programs.
According to a recent survey conducted by Afterschool Alliance, over 80 percent of program leaders expressed concerns about the sustainability of their programs, with more than 40 percent fearing permanent closure.
“The outlook for after-school programs in America looks bleak,” remarked Alison Black, executive director of the Cleveland branch of America Scores, a nonprofit that blends soccer and poetry education for students across North America.
Historically, after-school initiatives began to take root in the late 19th century through philanthropic settlement houses, which aimed to provide essential services like English courses and health care to immigrant children. The establishment of child labor laws in the 1930s and the demands of World War II further accelerated the growth of these programs as mothers entered the workforce.
Initially, these programs focused mainly on providing child care; however, their objectives widened in the 1960s to include reducing youth crime rates and providing positive role models. By the late 20th century, the emphasis shifted towards addressing academic disparities between socio-economic groups, prompting high-poverty schools to allocate some Title I funding for after-school programs.
In 1998, the federal government began to provide targeted support for after-school programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. Initially starting with $40 million, this funding surged to $1 billion by 2002, highlighting a growing recognition of the importance of after-school care.
Presently, the after-school sector is a diverse collection of initiatives that might offer academic enhancement, enrichment opportunities, or a combination of both. Their funding sources vary widely, often requiring providers to piece together multiple funding streams to ensure financial stability.
The 21st Century program remains the sole federal funding source dedicated exclusively to after-school and summer initiatives, providing $1.3 billion in support to over 10,000 centers in 2023, which collectively serve nearly a fifth of students nationwide.
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Demand for after-school programs continues to surpass supply, with studies showing that for each child enrolled, there are at least three others who would participate if they could find affordable and accessible options. Gina Warner, CEO of the National Afterschool Association, highlighted the unique environment these programs create, allowing children to explore and experiment without the high stakes often felt within school settings. “Afterschool is still a space for kids to take risks,” she stated.
Students also benefit from relationships with positive adult mentors who are neither their teachers nor caregivers, according to Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, who emphasized the importance of these connections.
However, maintaining these relationships presents challenges due to low compensation and limited avenues for career advancement. High turnover rates among staff undermine one of the programs’ greatest advantages, as described by Warner.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided a significant boost to after-school initiatives, allocating approximately $10 billion in aid over three years. Many programs used these funds to hire additional staff, enhance pay and benefits, and expand enrollment, thereby reaching an additional 5 million children.
However, as these funds are nearly depleted, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that districts must use any remaining resources promptly. In Cleveland, which dedicated almost $28 million to out-of-school programs between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, Horizon and other nonprofits rallied to persuade the district to continue supporting after-school funding. Despite their efforts, which included rallies and media coverage, the district has not extended any additional support, according to David Smith, executive director of Horizon.
“We cannot revert to the previous scale of our programs during the pandemic, and the challenges we face remain,” Smith stated. “Kids need assistance after school and require additional academic support.”
Despite notable progress achieved under former CEO Eric Gordon’s leadership, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is still dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic, which hindered some advancements like improved graduation rates.
Related: $1.5 billion in recovery funds goes to afterschool
The district’s new leader, Warren Morgan, has defended his decision not to fund nonprofit providers, pointing out that the district itself offers after-school sports and arts programming. Yet, advocates argue that many students are left without the consistent and comprehensive care that working parents rely on.
“Our city is concentrating on workforce development without considering the negative impact of cutting after-school care,” remarked Black from America Scores Cleveland.
Other nonprofits have also faced significant challenges. The Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association has reduced its locations from 14 to 7, while the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio have closed 17 sites after losing $3 million in pandemic relief and federal support this academic year.
Dorothy Moulthrop, CEO of Open Doors Academy, opined that losses could have been less severe if the coalition of after-school providers had effectively demonstrated their positive impact on student outcomes through shared data, which proved challenging to collate.
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The debate over the effectiveness of after-school programs has been ongoing since the early 2000s when evaluations indicated the 21st Century program’s minimal impact on student achievement. This controversial study continues to be cited by those advocating for decreased funding, while defenders insist that methodological flaws distorted its findings. A wealth of subsequent research shows mixed results regarding after-school programs’ overall effectiveness.
Though some analyses conclude that engaging in after-school programs boosts academic performance, others found negligible growth across various domains. The variance in results is often attributed to differences in program quality, with advocates noting the tendency for organizations with tight budgets to focus their finances on service delivery rather than program improvement or evaluation.
Achieving quality after-school programming is critical, yet when resources are constrained, it often becomes an overlooked priority. Furthermore, professional development opportunities tend to suffer, which can perpetuate inconsistency in program effectiveness.
Moreover, aligning program objectives with funding expectations is crucial, as many after-school initiatives prioritize relational and social skill development while funders often look for academic performance metrics.
Ultimately, one consistent indicator of positive outcomes appears to be attendance. Studies indicate that students who participate consistently in after-school programs tend to benefit more than those who attend infrequently. However, over half of participants in 21st Century programs in 2022-23 attended for less than 90 hours, equating to only 30 days of a three-hour-a-day program.
At Clara E. Westropp, where Horizon continues to operate its after-school program with a 21st Century grant, 73 students are enrolled, yet average daily attendance remains below half that number.
Meanwhile, at the Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit, student attendance is mandatory at least three days per week. To maintain engagement, the program offers a diverse array of activities, from cooking to coding, situated within a facility equipped with advanced technology and a music studio funded by a prominent music producer.
Debra Beal, who stepped in to care for her niece’s children, credits the program with transforming their lives. It kept the boys engaged, nourished them physically and academically, and even provided emotional support during tragic family losses.
“What they’re doing is life-changing,” Beal stated, gesturing to the positive environment nurtured by the program.
In contrast to those in Cleveland, the Downtown Boxing Gym has found more stability due to state funding, having received $50 million for after-school programs in recent years.
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Despite this security, the program faces pressures from ongoing budget cuts tied to the current administration’s initiatives, with many corporate sponsorships being reevaluated. The potential cuts to nutrition and aid programs that support student meals and tutoring are also concerning.
Back in Cleveland, the coalition of after-school advocates has united various stakeholders, including the city and county officials, to explore the costs associated with delivering quality after-school programming. Longtime advocates feel like the sector is being compelled to justify its worth all over again, circling back to past discussions around effective practices and quality standards.
Prospects remain ominous as the district prepares to transfer costs related to security and custodial services for after-school programs onto nonprofit providers, which could impose significant financial burdens.
While future federal funding remains uncertain, the 21st Century program has seen bipartisan support in Congress, yet past proposals have attempted to eliminate it altogether, raising concerns for the future.
In the meantime, after-school programs continue to deliver essential services, providing Cleveland’s youth with nurturing adults, enriching activities, and a safe environment for the hours following school.
As the teams wrapped up their construction challenge with ten minutes to spare, Zayden and Mia’s structure, which was more reminiscent of a two-story house with a sagging roof, drew skepticism. Zayden expressed doubt about its ability to hold up.
“I think it’s going to fall,” he remarked.
“Keep a positive mindset,” encouraged Kathy Thome, a program administrator present to assist.
When site coordinator Ian Welch tested their structure with a notebook, the children were nervous but hopeful. Although the structure ultimately collapsed, it managed to hold the notebook briefly, eliciting cheers and excitement from the children.
“We’re so elated — we accomplished it!” Zayden exclaimed joyfully.
Welch celebrated their accomplishment by rewarding them with fresh gummy bears, leaving the children, invigorated and sugar-fueled, to await their pickups.
Source
hechingerreport.org