$50 million approved for before- and after-school programs

METRO DETROIT — On Dec. 19, the Michigan Governor’s Office and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential announced $50 million in grants to before- and after-school programs.

These grants will help increase access to before- and after-school and summer learning programs, helping more youth engage in enrichment activities outside of the regular school day hours while providing homework help and accelerated learning opportunities in literacy, math, and science, and offer additional support to working families knowing their children are safe.  

“Today, we are expanding access to before and after school programs for over 67,000 students at 780 locations across Michigan, ensuring every student gets the support they need to succeed,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release. “These programs help kids explore their interests, get extra academic support, and connect with their peers. They also make it easier for parents to work, knowing their kids are safe and cared for additional time outside of school hours. As a parent and as governor, I know that today’s investments will set more students up for success.”

These grants will help provide educational programming in core subject areas, including, but not limited to, mathematics, reading, and science. Recipients can use funds to increase their enrollment capacity, accelerate learning, and reduce costs for participating families, helping to resolve the unmet demand for out-of-school Time programming in Michigan. A total of 125 program proposals will be funded for the 2023-2024 program year to serve more than 31,000 youth during the school year and an additional 36,000 or more young people during the summer.  

According to research conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, more than 751,000 children in Michigan lack access to out of school time programming. Furthermore, the Michigan Afterschool Partnership found that there is a disproportionate undersupply of out of school time providers in Michigan’s predominately Black and low-income communities.

Data from the Afterschool Alliance also reveals that lack of program availability, high costs, and transportation issues produce the most significant obstacles to out-of-school time programs for Michigan parents. These grants will help reduce barriers and enable more parents to enroll their children in expanded learning programs.  

“Children enrolled in out-of-school time programs are more likely to experience improvements in their performance at school, improvement in behavior, and have a higher earning potential as adults,” Erin Skene-Pratt, the executive director of the Michigan After School Partnership said in a press release. “These programs also help parents sustain employment and provide parents with peace of mind knowing their children are safe and cared for before and after school. The benefits of out-of-school time programming are substantial and increasing access to these programs is crucial for children and families in Michigan.”

The full list of sub-awardees can be viewed on the out-of-school Time Programs’ website at www.michigan.gov/MiLEAP.