Unmet demand for afterschool programs is high in rural communities

(StatePoint) As many families in rural communities struggle for economic security, experts say that the afterschool programs that keep students safe and inspire them to learn are in short supply.

A recently released report, “The Growing Importance of Afterschool in Rural Communities,” finds that just 13 percent of rural students in the U.S. participate in an afterschool program. While this number is up from 2009, it’s still considerably below the 18 percent nationwide rate.

According to America After 3PM, a household survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness...