New Report: Why Teens Don’t Go to AfterSchool Programs

Posted by on May 14, 2007

?LACK OF INTEREST? REASON WHY TEENS DON?T USE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Four-in-ten teens (40.5%) who do not attend after-school programs say it is because they simply are not interested in what is being offered, according to a new poll. In contrast, about one-in-ten teens say they do not participate because of cost (11.9%) or lack of transportation (11.6%). Overall, 44.7 percent of respondents say they attend after-school programs other than sports, while 55.3 percent do not. Of those teens who do participate in after-school programs, nearly two-thirds (62.1%) do so at their schools, such as in a gym or cafeteria; nearly one-in-five (18.1%) participate at a church or place of worship; and fewer than one-in-ten (8.6%) participate in a traditional after-school setting, such as a YMCA, Boys & Girls Club or similar facility. The survey of 1,200 youths between the ages of 13 and 18 was conducted by Newton Research for JA Worldwide in March 2006. When asked what factors would increase their interest in after-school activities, the overwhelming majority of teens said they would be interested in after-school programs that offer opportunities for college scholarships (94.3%), followed by programs where they can earn college credit (92.1%). Teens were also interested in programs that help them perform better in school (76.8%), develop leadership skills (76.4%), teach them how to work with money and budgets (75.6%) and how to run a business (69.1%).

http://news.publiceducation.org/t/5220/197760/139/0/