9 out of 10 New Jersey Residents Vote That Afterschool Programs Are Important

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, Apr 07 (MARKET WIRE) --
Nine-out-of-ten New Jersey residents believe that it is important for all
school-aged children to have access to safe, structured and affordable
afterschool programs. According to the February 2009 statewide poll
performed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute, more than
two-thirds of New Jerseyans believe that access to such programs is 'Very
Important.' This is the first time a statewide poll has ever gauged the
public's perception of the importance of afterschool programs.

With such strong citizen support, one might be surprised to learn how many
families struggle to find safe places for children to learn and play
between the hours of 3 and 6pm -- the peak time for at risk student
behavior according to federal studies. In New Jersey, only 12% of the
state's 1.5 million school-aged children have access to afterschool
programs. And according to the Afterschool Alliance, a national advocacy
group for the field, more than 23% of these New Jersey children are left
unsupervised afterschool every day.

Amidst the public polls and growing studies gauging the impact of
afterschool programs on kids, educators and researchers are discovering
the many positive benefits associated with afterschool programs.
Independent research is demonstrating that high quality afterschool
programs have a positive impact on kids in the classroom and in the
community. Because of their involvement in these programs, recent studies
are showing that children are more likely to graduate high school on
time, be better prepared for college and learn the skills they'll need in
the 21st century workforce. By preparing children for success, and
keeping them behaviorally on track, high-quality afterschool programs are
saving taxpayers billions of dollars in the long run.

Due to the growing challenge of meeting the demands of standardized
testing during the traditional school day, the afterschool hours are being
leveraged differently to expand learning time in an effective,
cost-efficient way. In addition, effective local programs are finding
their place at the table as the state deals with the growing crisis around
crime, high school dropouts and the need to develop a capable workforce
that ensures New Jersey's competitiveness in the global economy.
Organizations like New Jersey After 3, a statewide network of afterschool
programs, are demonstrating that afterschool programs produce academic
gains and teach critical skills like communication, teamwork, leadership
and problem solving: skills that support children in the classroom now,
but also position them for success later in life.

Corporations are taking notice, and investing in these research-backed
programs. Douglas Kennedy, President of Capital One Bank's New Jersey
Division, has been a vocal advocate for the value of afterschool and
shares that, "We hope that other business leaders will follow our example
and invest in the field of afterschool... these programs are critical to
workforce development in New Jersey and serve as an essential support to
hard-working families throughout the state."

In addition to the impact on student performance and the connections to
workforce readiness, research is showing that afterschool programs are
playing a pivotal role in the fight against childhood obesity. New Jersey
has been cited as having the highest national percentage (18%) of obese
and overweight children under the age of 5, indicating a severe statewide
problem according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. High quality afterschool programs incorporate activities that
keep kids moving and teach valuable lessons about staying fit and how to
make healthier lifestyle choices.

Mark Valli, President of New Jersey After 3, commented, "The data
presented here proves that New Jersey residents see the added value that
afterschool programs bring to the state -- they recognize that programs,
like those within the New Jersey After 3 network, help keep kids safe,
support working families, promote positive youth development, have a
significant impact on students' learning, and can ultimately save
taxpayers billions. We hope that these results will resonate with
business leaders and policy makers throughout the state to help support
the growing need for more afterschool programs."

* Please click here to view complete poll results. For a listing of
afterschool programs throughout the state, please visit:
www.njafterschool.org

CONTACT:
Shannon Boehmer
New Jersey After 3
Email Contact
267-241-5824

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