SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Afterschool programs help children and youth thrive in school and in life. They provide homework help, opportunities to get active, and access to healthy snacks and meals. They help children develop friendships, meet mentors, learn about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), explore college and careers, and engage in community service. Through these activities, and more, afterschool programs help youth build the skills they need to succeed.

A million people across the United States are celebrating afterschool programs this fall, and rallying for more resources for them, as part of Lights On Afterschool 2024. More than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool events are taking place in every part of the country. In California, students are displaying wiggle robots, paintings and block-builds they created. In Colorado, parents are jotting down their dreams for their children and putting them in a Dream Box. In Florida, students are sharing what they learned about the migration of monarch butterflies. In Indiana, students are showing the PSAs they created about how substance use has affected their lives.

As a testament to the importance of afterschool programming, some big names are lending their support. Superstar Usher is serving as honorary chair of Lights On Afterschool this year, organized once again by the Afterschool Alliance.

“Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and give working families peace of mind that their children are safe, supervised and learning after school. Lights On Afterschool is a chance to showcase the skills students hone and the talents they develop at these programs,” said Afterschool Alliance executive director, Jodi Grant.

To learn more about afterschool programs and Lights On Afterschool, visit afterschoolalliance.org.

This year, Lights On Afterschool comes as funding for programs across the nation, provided from federal pandemic relief, winds down. These funds have helped afterschool programs meet rising costs and provide support for millions of youth. In recent years, Congress has failed to significantly increase funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the chief federal funding stream for afterschool and summer learning programs.

“There aren’t nearly enough afterschool programs to meet the soaring demand,” Grant added. “For every child in an afterschool program in our country, four more are waiting to get in. We urgently need greater investments from all sectors so all students can benefit from the essential supports afterschool programs provide.”

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