Who’s Left Out? Investigating Barriers to Afterschool Program Participation Across Two Decades

• In Event: Measuring and Addressing Gaps in Out-of-School Time Access: Barriers, Data Infrastructure, and Program Impacts 

Abstract

Objective

Since 2004, we have conducted a recurring national household survey of parents or guardians of school-aged children to collect data describing how children and youth spend the hours between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. This presentation reports on this data to detail the persistent and emerging barriers to participation, with findings disaggregated by income, race/ethnicity, and community type. We focus on the most significant barriers to afterschool program participation in 2025, examining differences by income level, community type, and race and ethnicity, as well as the interplay between demographic groupings. Relevant changes over time related to accessing afterschool programs will also be discussed, highlighting groups that have faced greater challenges accessing these programs and where the opportunity gap has widened over time. We will discuss policy implications and potential opportunities to address the challenges surfaced.

Perspective

A recurring national household survey of parents or guardians of school-aged children.

Methods

For our 2025 study, we surveyed representative parent and guardian samples of school-aged children, with at least 200 respondents in every state and D.C. These survey respondents were recruited using an online, non-probability sample obtained via national opt-in consumer research panels. The survey was conducted online, which participants could take on a computer or mobile device, reaching those with phone data access. In states where 200 completed interviews could not be reached using online panels, a targeted sample was used to obtain supplementary telephone interviews. The survey was offered in both English and Spanish. Quotas were set and the final data were weighted to be representative of parents/guardians of K-12 children at the state and national levels by family income and race/ethnicity. Once responses were weighted within a state, the data were weighted by state to be proportionate nationally. A combination of sources was used to determine quota and weighting targets, including the most recent U.S. Census American Community Survey and National Center for Education Statistics data on U.S. parents in each state.

Results

2025 marks the fifth edition of the national study, which now includes data that spans two decades measuring afterschool program supply and demand, providing insights on parents’ views on afterschool programs’ value and impact, and exploring trends in program participation, barriers families face accessing programs, and support for investments in programs.

Significance

Data from previous iterations of this survey have informed government reports and policy discussions on afterschool and youth development across the U.S.

Author

• Nikki Yamashiro, Afterschool Alliance