Supported by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. America After

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America After 3 PM A Household Survey on
Afterschool in America Supported by the JCPenney
Afterschool Fund
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America After 3 PM Executive Summary
While most children in America, 67, spend some
portion of the hours after school in the care of
a parent or guardian, 25 of the countrys K-12
youth are responsible for taking care of
themselves. These children spend an average of
nearly 7 hours per week unsupervised after
school. In contrast, only 11 of U.S. K-12
youth participate in afterschool programs.
Other care arrangements include traditional
child care centers (11), sibling care (11) and
non-parental adult care, such as a grandparent or
neighbor (15). Need or Demand for Afterschool
More than 26 of the K-12 youth in self-care
would be likely to participate in an afterschool
program if one were available in the
community. Similarly, 30 of all children not in
afterschool would be likely to participate if an
afterschool program were available in the
community, regardless of their current care
arrangement.
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America After 3 PM Executive Summary
Satisfaction with Afterschool Programs Ninety-one
percent of parents nationwide are extremely or
somewhat satisfied with the afterschool program
their child attends. The top 3 reasons parents
cite for selecting an afterschool program are
child enjoyment, affordability, and convenient
location. Parents of non-participants believe
that their children would benefit most from
afterschool programs in the following ways by
having fun, improved physical activity, improved
social skills, academic enrichment, and by
staying safe and out of trouble. Contextual
Information about Afterschool Programs
Nationwide, public schools are the largest
provider of afterschool programs. YMCAs,
religious organizations, Boys and Girls Clubs and
private schools round out the top five providers
of afterschool programs. On average, families
spend 22 per week for afterschool programs.
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America After 3 PM Types of Care After School
100
90
80
67 38.3 M
70
60
of Respondents Millions of k-12 children
50
40
25 14.3 M
30
15 8.6 M
11 6.5 M
11 6.5M
11 6.5 M
20
10
0
Day care facility
Parent or
Looking after
Another adult,
Afterschool
Sibling care
Guardian
him/ herself
such as
program
(self care)
neighbor
Sample Size 51,781 Total Kids K-12 in the US 57
Million Percentages total greater than 100
because many children are in more than one type
of care
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Demand for AfterschoolAmong youth not currently
in afterschool programs
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America After 3 PM Hours Children Spend in Self
Care
14.3 million K-12 youth are in self care Average
of 7 hours/week unsupervised
Sample Size 5,969
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America After 3 PM Youth in Self Care by Grade
Levels
Sample Size 5,969
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America After 3 PM Afterschool Participants by
Grade Levels
Sample Size 5,969
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America After 3 PM
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America After 3 PMChildren unsupervised by grade
levels
11
America After 3 PMChildren in afterschool by
grade levels
12
America After 3 PM Afterschool Program Providers
Sample Base 3,434
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America After 3 PMSatisfaction with Afterschool
Programs
91 overall satisfaction rating
Sample Size 2,724
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Methodology

• The study was conducted in two phases
• Phase 1 Pre-screening done for overall
  participation calculation. A total of 30,791
  households were screened for Afterschool
  participation by number of children.
• Phase 2 Detailed questionnaires were mailed to
  targeted sample to obtain a proportionate number
  of Afterschool program participants vs.
  non-participants. Final sample achieved for the
  main interviews was 18,181.
• Reporting is done with numbers projected to
  target Universe of children in US, in the age
  group of 5 17 years.
• Weighting of household level data has been done
  by Income and Race variables. Weighting of
  child level data has been done by only Race.
• The field-work for the study was conducted was
  conducted during July-October 2003

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Screening Phase

• Screening conducted among general sample to
  identify school-age parent households.
• Screening also used to gain national and state
  level participation rates of participation in
  after school programs.
• Screening interviews were conducted using
  IPSOS-NPD mail omnibus panel
• National participation levels have a sampling
  error of /- 1

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Main Questionnaire

• Two versions of follow-up questionnaire were
  mailed to school-age parent households
• Participants in afterschool programs
• 2,666 Participant questionnaires mailed
• 1,814 Participant questionnaires received
• 68 response rate achieved
• Non-Participants in afterschool programs
• 24,565 Non-participant questionnaires mailed
• 16,142 Non-participant questionnaires received
• 66 response rate achieved

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Sample coverage Screening
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Sample coverage Main Interviews