On June 9, 2025, the Washington Post referenced a report by the D.C. Policy Center highlighting issues with afterschool program accessibility in Washington D.C. According to the think tank’s findings, approximately three out of five children from prekindergarten to eighth grade lack access to any afterschool programs.
The report underscores a significant gap in resources for young students outside regular school hours. This shortage of accessible afterschool activities may contribute to increased truancy and potentially fuel youth crime within the district.
For further reading on this topic, refer to “How D.C.’s failure to curb truancy fueled a surge in youth crime” and “Needs assessment of out-of-school time programs in the District of Columbia.”
