Today’s educators know that students' needs don’t come to an end when the final bell rings.
Classrooms empty and hallways quiet down, but the support that many kids and families depend on extends well into the afternoon and evening. Between 3 and 6 p.m., students need safe places to land, meaningful ways to stay engaged, and opportunities to keep learning and growing. Meanwhile, working parents need consistency, reliability, and peace of mind that their students are thriving and in capable hands until it’s time for pick-up.
For years, teachers, families, and community leaders have understood the value of after-school programs in meeting these needs. What’s becoming even clearer now is how widespread the demand truly is and how crucial it is for schools to meet that demand in ways that are equitable and sustainable.
Recent national findings from the Afterschool Alliance reinforce what many school and district leaders experience every day. Families want—and in many cases, need—after-school opportunities for their children, and schools play a central role in making those opportunities possible. Availability, affordability, and logistics continue to shape how access looks across communities.
What the National Data Says About After-School Demand
The Afterschool Alliance’s America After 3PM research shows that demand for after-school programs in the United States is huge and largely unmet.
- The survey finds that “parents of nearly 30 million children want afterschool programs for their children,” yet only about 7 million children are currently enrolled in such programs. That means more than three in four of the kids whose parents want them in an after-school program cannot participate because one is not available or accessible.
- Families overwhelmingly value these programs for more than supervision. Parents report that after-school programming helps keep children safe, builds foundational skills like teamwork and critical thinking, and supports working families in keeping jobs and reducing stress.
- Cost, accessibility, and availability remain the top barriers to participation. For example, about 56 percent of parents say program cost is an important reason they can’t enroll their child, and nearly half say transportation and inconvenient locations limit access. Low- and middle-income families are disproportionately affected by these constraints.
These findings underscore the scale of unmet demand and reinforce why strategic partnerships between schools and high-quality program providers are urgently needed to expand access equitably.
At Brains & Motion, this data feels personal. It mirrors the conversations we have daily with our school and district partners across the country.
Why After-School Access Has Become a School-Level Priority
After-school programs are increasingly viewed as a natural extension of the school day. For many communities, they support both student growth and family stability.
Well-designed after-school programs strengthen students’ sense of engagement and belonging, while also offering exposure to in-demand STEAM topics, social-emotional skill development, and support for working families and caregivers.
The Afterschool Alliance’s long-standing America After 3PM research continues to highlight strong parental support for after-school programs, high satisfaction among participating families, and broad agreement around the importance of public investment in out-of-school-time opportunities.
The research also points to an opportunity. Families with fewer resources often face more barriers to participation, making it even more important for schools to think strategically about access and equity when designing after-school offerings.
From Advocacy to Action in After-School
National advocacy organizations play a critical role in elevating after-school at the state and federal levels. The Afterschool Alliance, in particular, has helped ensure that policymakers understand how after-school funding supports students, families, and local communities.
Brains & Motion is proud to be part of this larger conversation.
Last fall, our team joined schools and organizations nationwide during Lights On Afterschool to celebrate what after-school can look like when students have access to high-quality programs. In communities like Canoga Park, we saw students learning, moving, collaborating, and building confidence in environments designed to support them beyond the classroom.
These moments help raise awareness, but they also reinforce an important truth. Afterschool programs work best when advocacy is paired with thoughtful implementation.
What Schools Are Looking for in After-School Partners
As interest in after-school programs continues to grow, schools are focused on solutions that are both impactful for students and realistic to implement.
District and school leaders are increasingly seeking partners who can align with school-day priorities and SEL frameworks, adapt to different schedules and spaces, ease administrative and operational demands on staff, expand access for all students, and deliver measurable outcomes over time.
This is where Brains & Motion comes in. We partner with schools not as a vendor, but as a trusted collaborator who understands the day-to-day realities of running effective programs and the complexities of school environments. Our approach is designed to make it easier for schools to provide high-quality enrichment while meeting both academic and social-emotional goals for every student.
As our CEO Bart Epstein shared earlier this year, the Afterschool Alliance is a vital voice advocating for the funding schools rely on to provide these programs. At BAM!, we aim to ensure that every investment in after-school supports programs like ours that are provably effective, scalable, and capable of making a meaningful and lasting impact on students and families.
Looking Ahead: Strengthening After-School Together
After-school programs are entering an important chapter. Research, advocacy, and on-the-ground implementation are becoming more closely connected, and schools have an opportunity to shape what high-quality after-school looks like in their communities.
At BAM!, we are proud to align with organizations like the Afterschool Alliance that elevate the importance of after-school nationwide. We are equally committed to partnering with schools to deliver programs that support students, families, and educators every day.
As districts plan for the future, after-school remains one of the most powerful ways to extend learning, strengthen communities, and create more equitable access to enrichment when programs are thoughtfully designed and well supported.
The demand is clear. The opportunity is collaborative.
