6 Reasons Kids and Parents Benefit From After-School Programs

These are some national statistics...... Thought you'd like to know

1. In communities today, 15.1 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends.
2. Just 8.4 million children are in afterschool programs—but the parents of another 18.5 million children say their children would participate in afterschool if a program were available.
3. A report on 21st Century Community Learning Centers (afterschool programs receiving federal funds) showed that 45 percent of all participants improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades.
4. On school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
5. Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity.
6. Parents with children in afterschool programs are less stressed, have fewer unscheduled absences and are more productive at work.

If you don't think you can afford to enroll your children in one of our after school programs in West Orange, please contact us to see if aid maybe available.   The statistics are staggering and you and your children deserve to live healthy, safe, and successful lives.   If you would like to enroll in any of our after school programs at Washington School, Hazel Avenue School, Pleasantdale Elementary, Gregory School, or Mount Pleasant or would like more information, please visit our website at www.bgcwo.org.