English 
Español 
Français 
Українська 
Bosanski 
العربية Speak up for Afterschool
This page includes resources and helpful information on how to speak up for after-school programs. These resources will help you tell your local, state, and even federal leaders why youth-serving programs matter and who they serve.
We have everything from the basics like, “who makes the decisions?’ to more in-depth questions like, ‘how do I explain my experience to these leaders?’ It can be easier than you think, and decision-makers are likely more approachable than you thought possible!
Educate
State and Federal Legislative Updates
Reports on Afterschool Impact
Organizations to Learn More
Afterschool Alliance
A searchable database that covers many issues and the research supporting afterschool and summer learning.
Data & Research
Catalyzing for Thriving Youth from their Early Education through Young Adulthood.
A Presentation by Deborah Lowe Vandell, to The Mott Afterschool State Networks Findings from 3 Large studies: 1) A 26-year longitudinal study of effects of
Children’s Activity Industry Report, 2026 Trends
Brought to you by Sawyer for Business Every year, the team reviews key metrics and analyzes trends within the children’s activity industry. Our goal is
Advocacy Toolkit brought to you by Idaho AEYC (Idaho Association of the Education of Young Children)
Be a Champion for Early Learning. Public policies at the national, state and local levels have a tremendous impact on foundations needed to ensure quality
Idaho Healthy Youth Survey by the Idaho Office of Drug Policy
What is the Idaho Healthy Youth Survey?The Idaho Healthy Youth Survey (IHYS) is a bi-annual, statewide survey of 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders facilitated
Afterschool Programs: A Long-Term Investment in Our Children’s Future
Research findings from a 26-year longitudinal study from Vandell and Simpkins (2024) show youth who consistently participate in afterschool programs from elementary school through adolescence
The Future of Youth Development: Building Systems and Strengthening Programs (2025)
The Future of Youth Development examines the effectiveness of OST programs and identifies access and quality improvements. This book describes the array of OST activities;
Federal Funding Streams for Children and Youth Services – Children’s Funding Project
This database catalogs the purposes and key characteristics of 304 federal funding streams that support children and youth, as well as policy and funding changes
Fall 2025 Afterschool Today – Voices For Change Advocacy in Action
Published by the National Afterschool Association (NAA) – 2025. See publication.
Practical Guidance: What Nonprofits Need to Know about Lobbying in Idaho
Practical Guidance: What Nonprofits Need to Know about Lobbying in Idaho Published by Alliance for Justice in 2023. Read the Guide
America After 3PM Report (2025)
Idaho After 3PM Report Demand for afterschool programs in Idaho is enormous, yet most families who want programs for their children can’t access them. According
Full STEM Ahead: Afterschool Programs Step Up as Key partners in STEM Education
Full STEM Ahead: Afterschool Programs Step Up as Key Partners in STEM Education Published as part of the America After 3 PM Series by the
Effective Summer Programming: What Educators and Policymakers Should Know (2018)
Effective Summer Programming: What Educators and Policymakers Should Know Published in American Educator, this article reviews a meta-analysis done of summer learning programs. It explains
Council for a Strong America Report: Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (2019)
Council for a Strong America Report: From Risk to Opportunity: Afterschool Programs Keep Kids Safe When Juvenile Crime Peaks Published by the Council for a
Aspen Institute: Building Partnerships in Support of Where, When, & How Learning Happens
Building Partnerships in Support of Where, When, & How Learning Happens Published October 2018, this report talks about afterschool programs’ role in supporting social and
Voices for Health Kids: 2019-2020 Progress Report
Voices for Healthy Kids: 2019-2020 Progress Report Voices for Healthy Kids believes that they must use policy change to disrupt age-old systems and practices that
Hispanic Profile Data Book
The Hispanic Profile Data Book for Idaho, 4th Edition Christy Dearien, from the University of Idaho’s McClure Center for Public Policy Research was the lead
America After 3pm (2020)
America After 3 PM Published by the Afterschool Alliance in 2020, this is the report from the America After 3 PM Survey. Read the Report
Idaho Afterschool (2023)
This is Afterschool In Idaho Published by Afterschool Alliance, this report summarizes data taken from the America After 3 PM survey.
Idaho Out-of-School STEM Survey (2018)
2018 Idaho Out-of-School Program STEM Survey Results Published in 2018, these results show data from more than 130 OST programs in Idaho that offer STEM
Early Childhood Care & Education
Early Childhood Care & Education Workforce IdahoSTARS 2022 Workforce Report
Idaho Child Care Funding Cliff (2022)
Unstable Footing: Child Care Funding Crisis in Idaho Idaho First Steps Alliance December 2022 Report
Idaho Evaluation: Community Programs for Youth (2023)
Idaho Community Programs for Youth (ICPfY) Utah Education Policy Center 2021-2022 Evaluation Report Read the Report Read Summary
Idaho Evaluation: 2022-2023 School-Year Report (2024)
Idaho Out-of-School Network’s 2022-2023 Grant Evaluation (Utah Education Policy Center) A comprehensive, external evaluation of ION’s OST Enrichment & Idaho Community Program Grants.
National Education Recovery Scorecard (2024)
The First Year of Pandemic Recovery: A District-Level Analysis Erin Fahle, Stanford University Thomas J. Kane, Harvard University Sean F. Reardon, Stanford University Douglas O.