America After 3PM Summer
The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth
The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth
"The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families: Affording the Opportunities Parents Want for Youth," based on data from the America After 3PM survey and made possible with the support of The Wallace Foundation, paints a clear picture: while parents of 24.6 million kids want a robust summer for their kids, roughly half—12.6 million children—are missing out on the programs that provide just that.
Since 2004, the America After 3PM study has provided an essential view into how children and young people spend the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. The 2025 results from this nationwide survey make one thing clear: families across the country—regardless of whether they live in rural, suburban, or urban communities, in a coastal state, or in the middle of the country—continue to want afterschool programs for their children. Yet much of that demand remains unmet: more than 3 in 4 children whose parents want them in an afterschool program are missing out.
Allegheny County Summer Data
In partnership with APOST, Afterschool Alliance release summer data specific to Allegheny County. The data finds that ninety-six percent of Allegheny County parents whose child is enrolled report being satisfied with the program their child attends. Nine in ten Allegheny County parents (91%) favor public funding for summer learning opportunities.
Pennsylvania Summer Data
Pennsylvania parents want a summer full of opportunity for their children to explore, connect, and grow. But cost puts summer out of reach for many. Parents value the benefits afterschool programs provide for young people—keeping them safe, helping build life skills, and getting them excited about learning—and say afterschool programs help them keep their jobs and provide peace of mind.
National Summer Data
Every year, millions of young people look forward to the start of summer. But for many parents, summer is a struggle. While parents know what they want for their children—a safe place to learn, grow, explore, and build friendships—securing summer programs is a challenge.
1. Affordability remains the top barrier, particularly for low- and middle-income families
2. Parents want a summer of opportunity for their children.
3. For families who can access summer programs, the experience is a positive one.
4. Parents—both those with and without children in summer programs—support public funding for programs.
