adults; and
WHEREAS, After school programs provide safe, challenging,
engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and
youths develop academic, cultural, emotional, physical and
social skills; and
WHEREAS, After school programs support working families by
ensuring that their children are safe and productive during out-
of-school hours; and
WHEREAS, After school programs offer a fun and supportive
educational environment for Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) that helps foster this Commonwealth's
economic competitiveness; and
WHEREAS, A recent national survey reported that 52% of
parents cite cost as a barrier to enrolling their children in
after school programs; and
WHEREAS, Research illustrates that high-quality programming
improves student achievement, reduces crime by and against
children and youths and promotes positive social development;
and
WHEREAS, After school programs build stronger communities by
involving parents, business leaders and student and adult
volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting
positive relationships among children, youths, families and
adults; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 811,954 children in Pennsylvania would
participate in an after school program if one were available to
them; and
WHEREAS, Across the country, approximately 19.4 million
families report that they would enroll their child in an after
school program if one were offered; and
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