QUALITY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME

Why It Matters

327,853 of Georgia's school-aged children participated in afterschool programs in 2020.

Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. High quality afterschool and summer learning programs can close educational and opportunity gaps, support the positive development of the whole child, and can be a key strategy to improving child well-being. Many afterschool and summer learning programs have proven invaluable during the coronavirus pandemic by providing full-day care, support for virtual school, and meals when schools were physically closed and parents needed help or had to work.

Where Georgia Stands

42

more children would enroll if a program was available in their community.

55

of Georgia parents say afterschool programs are too expensive

86

of Georgia parents are in favor of public funding for afterschool and summer learning programs.

Our Priorities

The Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN) leads all initiatives regarding out-of-school time programming. GSAN is a public-private collaborative whose mission is to advance, connect, and support high quality afterschool and summer learning programs to promote the success of children and youth throughout Georgia.

Learn more about GSAN's ongoing priorities and initatives

Wins for Kids

Children who experienced loss of instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic have added support.

The General Assembly allocated $4.7 million from state revenue funds in FY22 to the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services’ Afterschool Care Program to recoup instructional loss as a result of the pandemic.

Children and youth will have increased access to afterschool and summer learning programs.

The Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants program provides $85 million for evidence-based afterschool and summer enrichment programming that support students in learning skills and concepts and provide whole child supports, thus removing non-academic barriers to learning for students most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

More funding is available to support school-aged children in licensed child care centers and family learning homes.

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s School-Age Help and Relief Effort (SHARE) Grant made $5 million available to a variety of child care providers. The funds will help support providers caring for and supporting school-age children throughout the school year and those providing summer academic and social enrichment programs for school-age youth.