After-school programs are crucial for many families. From the time school gets out around 2 or 3 p.m. to the time most parents get off work at 5 or 6 p.m., after-school program providers offer kids expanded academics and enrichment activities like arts or physical education.

But while the need is clear, many state and federally funded after-school programs are struggling to survive. Almost all of the quality after-hours programs in the county are have long waitlists, and not every family can access them.

On the latest Good Schools for All podcast, Scott Lewis and Laura Kohn talk with Brad Lupien, CEO of after-school program provider arc, and the San Diego County Office of Education's Daymon Beach about the importance of such programs and the issues impacting them.

Also on the podcast: an update on local school board election results and a quick look back at Cindy Marten’s five years as San Diego Unified’s superintendent. What’s Working 

Proposition 49: Prop. 49 is a California law passed in 2002 that set aside funding for after-school programs. While many of the programs need more funding,  the state was still rated No. 1 in the country for its after-school offerings by the Afterschool Alliance. Number of the Week 

8.8 percent: That's the  state’s increase, from $7.50 to $8.16, in the daily reimbursement rate for each student in after-school programs. If the number kept up with inflation, it should be $9.32.

After-school programs are crucial for many families. From the time school gets out around 2 or 3 p.m. to the time most parents get off work at 5 or 6 p.m., after-school program providers offer kids expanded academics and enrichment activities like arts or physical education. But while the need is clear, many state and federally funded after-school programs are <a href="https://edsource.org/2017/californias-subsidized-after-school-programs-struggling-to-survive/580932" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling to survive</a>. Almost all of the quality after-hours programs in the county are have long waitlists, and not every family can access them. On the latest Good Schools for All podcast, Scott Lewis and Laura Kohn talk with Brad Lupien, CEO of after-school program provider arc, and the San Diego County Office of Education's Daymon Beach about the importance of such programs and the issues impacting them. Also on the podcast: an update on local school board election results and a quick look back at <a href="https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/topics/education/five-years-in-cindy-marten-has-notched-some-successes-at-san-diego-unified-but-black-and-brown-students-still-struggle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cindy Marten’s five years as San Diego Unified’s superintendent</a>. What’s Working Proposition 49: Prop. 49 is a California law passed in 2002 that set aside funding for after-school programs. While many of the programs need more funding, <a href="http://afterschoolalliance.org/documents/AA3PM-2014/AA3PM_TOP_10.pdf"> the state was still rated No. 1</a> in the country for its after-school offerings by the Afterschool Alliance. Number of the Week 8.8 percent: That's the <a href="https://edsource.org/2017/california-must-save-its-successful-after-school-programs/581890"> state’s increase, from $7.50 to $8.16,</a> in the daily reimbursement rate for each student in after-school programs. If the number kept up with inflation, it should be $9.32.

A podcast about education. Every episode, Voice of San Diego's Scott Lewis and Will Huntsberry bring you a new story about schools and the system that makes them work (or not). This season, we’ll have stories about a scam that cost California millions of dollars, what happens when a school stops feeling safe and the future of early education. Subscribe now to get every episode. We’re back from summer vacation Sept. 25th.

Good Schools For All

After-school programs are crucial for many families. From the time school gets out around 2 or 3 p.m. to the time most parents get off work at 5 or 6 p.m., after-school program providers offer kids expanded academics and enrichment activities like...

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