(StatePoint) For some of us, summer conjures images of kids outside, making friends, trying new things, and rediscovering old favorites. But for many U.S. parents, the approach of summer brings stress and worry: Will they be able to find and afford the kinds of summer opportunities they want for their kids?
A new study from the Afterschool Alliance, “The Summer Struggle,” finds that about half of the 24.6 million young people nationwide whose parents want summer programs for them are missing out.
Affordability is the most significant barrier to summer program enrollment, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Other common barriers to participation include: issues with program location and transportation, a lack of programs in their community, scheduling issues, and a lack of open spots.
“Too many young people are missing out on the transformative experiences summer programs provide,” says Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Instead of being active, engaging with peers and caring adults, and learning new skills over the summer, children may be unsupervised, on screens, at risk, and in some cases without healthy food during the summer months. We can and must do better by creating more quality summer programs, which keep kids safe, engaged, and learning while giving working families peace of mind.”
America’s parents largely agree with this sentiment. The majority of parents, regardless of political affiliation, community type or race or ethnicity, support public funding for summer learning opportunities. And that support has steadily increased over the last 17 years.
Such funding would not only help more children access structured summer experiences, but also lighten the burden for families. Currently, low- and middle-income families are spending a greater slice of their wages on summer programs than higher income families: For every $100 earned during the summer, low-income families spend $10 and middle-income families spend about $5, while high-income families spend less than $3.
According to advocates, expanding summer opportunities can be achieved by advancing the following policy recommendations:
• Increase investment in summer programs. The affordability challenge that both families and summer programs are grappling with underscores the urgent need for greater public and private investments in summer learning programs at the national, state and local levels, and from businesses and philanthropies.
• Target barriers to participation. Grants that cover transportation costs, or grants specifically for transportation, can help programs improve access for families. Schools, community partners and local leaders can also collaborate to create and promote resources that provide information on summer programs.
• Create more programs that align with families’ priorities. Public and private entities can design funding opportunities to align with what families want – comprehensive summer programming that keeps young people engaged.
• Reduce barriers that prevent summer programs from providing food. During summer, millions of children lose access to school breakfasts and lunches. Three in 4 parents report that access to healthy snacks or meals is extremely important when selecting what their child does during summer. However, summer programs face multiple challenges to providing snacks and meals. In addition to increasing investments in summer programs, reducing bureaucratic hurdles may encourage more summer program providers to apply for this funding.
“It is very clear that parents recognize the need to help more young people take part in enriching, engaging structured opportunities during the summer. Our country will be more successful when we make that sentiment our reality,” says Grant.
