Nearly 12.6 million children whose parents wanted them in a summer program went without one in 2024 as rising costs widened access gaps for low-income and rural families.
The finding comes from a from the nonprofit advocacy organization the Afterschool Alliance. Researchers surveyed roughly 30,000 households nationwide to measure participation in structured summer programming.
For families, cost remains the biggest obstacle. Thirty-eight percent of parents whose children did not enroll said programs were too expensive, while low-income families spent a far larger share of their summer earnings on care and enrichment than higher-income households.
The divide is widening most sharply for economically disadvantaged students. High-income children participated in summer programs at more than triple the rate of low-income students in 2024, while unmet demand among low-income families remained twice as high.
Rural communities face an additional shortage problem. Participation among rural students lagged well behind suburban and urban peers, and rural parents were far more likely to say programs simply do not exist in their area.
Parents are also looking for more than childcare coverage. Most families prioritized safe environments and trusted staff, while concerns about mental health, socialization, confidence-building and excessive screen time also shaped enrollment decisions.
When students gain access, parents report strong results. Nearly all families with children enrolled in programs said they were satisfied, and those parents were more likely to feel confident their children would be ready for the school year.
Some districts are already scaling programs through layered funding models. Tuscaloosa City Schools expanded summer programming using federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding and local support, eventually serving more than 40% of its K-4 students. The district reported that students attending at least 15 days had a 75% likelihood of avoiding summer learning loss.
Federal and state policymakers are also pushing new investments. The proposed would prioritize grants for rural communities, chronically absent students and programs offering transportation and free services to low-income families, while Oregon lawmakers recently approved similar summer learning grant initiatives.
Read the report .
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