A new national survey says 4 in 5 Missouri parents who want afterschool programs for their children are unable to enroll in them. The America After 3 PM survey shows the lack of access is often due to affordability, availability, and accessibility.

Jen Rinehart, with the Washington, D.C.-based Afterschool Alliance, said the organization’s survey shows strong demand for afterschool programs in Missouri. According to the survey, in Missouri, parents of 474,869 children want afterschool programs but only 92,251 children are enrolled.

“The demand is highest among low- and middle-income families, and those are the families most likely to be missing out on programs, which really leads us to say that we do need greater public investment in these programs. So we really are seeing a situatio

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