A report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids suggests that while California is the nation’s leader in supporting afterschool programs, nearly 200 Central Valley schools in low-income neighborhoods are still without state or federal afterschool funding.

The successes speak loudly. Studies throughout the state demonstrate  improvements in school attendance, academic achievement, English language learning, and student engagement correlated with attending afterschool programs.

A California ASSETS (After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens) study found that high school program participants passed the exit exam (CAHSEE) at a significantly higher rate than students not in the program. Add that to keeping kids off the street, cultivating positive adult and peer relationships, providing a sense of belonging, redirecting problem behavior, and introducing new interests, and it’s no wonder afterschool programs are in high demand.

California’s commitment to afterschool also creates 20,000 afterschool jobs and provides parents reassurance at work while their children are in an afterschool program. Furthermore, local schools match 33 cents for every dollar from the state, leveraging state afterschool funding to raise millions of dollars in cash and in-kind matching funds to support children and youth afterschool. Another win for California kids.

Yet, the non-profit Fight Crime organization reminds us there is still plenty of work to be done:

• Juvenile Crime. Violent juvenile crime in California peaks from 3-4 pm on school days, including juveniles committing homicide, rape, robbery or assault, and juveniles becoming victims. Juvenile crime costs California almost $9 billion annually.
• Dropout Rate. High school dropouts are arrested three times more than high school graduates and eight times more likely to serve time in jail or prison. Dropouts costs Californians $46 billion a year.
• Low Income Families. Low income youth face higher risk of involvement in crime or hanging at the bottom of the achievement gap. Low-income families have the greatest need for safe, productive and educational afterschool opportunities—yet in California almost 2,000 low-income schools have no afterschool funding.
• Waiting Lists. More than half of state-funded afterschool programs report waiting lists, leaving thousands of kids behind.
• High Demand. Demand was more than eight times higher than the amount of available funding in the last round of competitive applications for federal funds.

While many California students and families reap the rewards of afterschool investments, there are significant numbers of underserved kids. The Fight Crime report concedes that quality afterschool programs are a crucial weapon against crime and that public safety depends on continued strong leadership in afterschool.

To access the full report or to learn more about Fight Crime: Invest in Kids:  http://www.fightcrime.org/state/2010/reports/californias-after-school-commitment

CENTRAL VALLEY LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS WITHOUT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California is a bipartisan, non-profit anti-crime organization led by 400 police chiefs, sheriffs, district attorneys, and violence survivors. Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer is a member of the organization’s executive committee.