After-school programs for low-income children: Promise and challenges

Children's out-of-school time, long a low-level source of public concern, h as recently emerged as a major social issue. This, in turn, has heightened interest in the heterogeneous field of after-school programs. This article provides a profile of after-school programs for low-income children, focusi ng on supply and demand, program emphases, and program sponsors and support organizations. It also discusses the major challenges facing the field in the areas of facilities, staffing, and financing. Details and examples are drawn from the ongoing evaluation of a specific after-school program initia tive called MOST (Making the Most-of Out-of-School Time), which seeks to st rengthen after-school programs in Boston, Chicago, and Seattle. Looking ahe ad, the article highlights the pros and cons of options for increasing cove rage to reach more low-income children, strengthening programs, expanding f unding, and articulating an appropriate role for after-school programs to f ill in the lives of low-income children.