Virginia parents want a summer full of opportunity for their children to explore, connect, and grow. But cost puts summer out of reach for many.
Get the Facts
Nearly 1 in 2 Children Are Missing Out
This unmet demand for summer programs represents 300,107 children whose parents want them to be in a program but are not. Nearly 1 in 2 children are missing out.
Accessibility Issues for Families
Location, Transportation, Availability, and Finding Information on Summer Programs are also Barriers:
For Virginia parents, affordability is the top challenge preventing them from enrolling their child in a summer program. Additional factors include:
- Hours did not meet needs
- Location/transportation issues
- Programs not available in my commuity
- Information on programs is not easy to find
Stats by Grade Level
Children who would participate in a summer program if one were available:
Children enrolled in a summer program:
Parental Support
Ultimately, Virginia parents give their child’s summer program high marks! 96% of parents surveyed reported being satisfied with their child’s structured summer experience. This report shows that parents want a summer of opportunity for young people. There is bipartisan support for public funding amongst parents in Virginia.
About the Survey
America After 3PM is a national online survey of parents or guardians of school-aged children, with supplemental interviews conducted by telephone. Data were collected by Edge Research on behalf of the Afterschool Alliance. In Virginia, 662 households and 1,057 children were screened for this study. Child-level statewide projections are based on total school enrollment numbers for the 2021-2022 school year from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
The America After 3PM summer findings are based on research funded by The Wallace Foundation.
Learn more and see recommendations for action at aa3pm.co.
