Study finds growth in afterschool STEM programs across state

A new study finds STEM opportunities have grown in Tennessee afterschool programs, though rural and low-income families continue to face barriers. In the study from Afterschool Alliance, a national nonprofit, approximately 84% of parents in Tennessee now report their child's afterschool program offers STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning opportunities — an increase from 59% in 2014, according to a press release from the nonprofit. Today, 89,536 Tennessee students are getting STEM education in their afterschool program. But approximately 4 in 5 Tennessee children and youth whose parents want afterschool programs for them, or 81%, are not enrolled at all. A study called 'Afterschool STEM Takes Off' released Wednesday by the Afterschool Alliance, finds increases in STEM in afterschool from 2014 to 2025 in every state. It is based on a survey of 30,515 U.S. parents of school-age children who live in their households, conducted by Edge Research — including 672 in Tennessee. It finds that most Tennessee parents recognize the value of STEM education in afterschool, with 74% agreeing that afterschool programs help children gain STEM interests and skills. But the new study finds that how often children engage with STEM in afterschool varies. Twenty-nine percent of Tennessee parents report their child engages with STEM in afterschool at least two to three times per week. That compares to 54% nationally, with low-income parents across the country reporting significantly less frequency than parents with higher incomes. "In Tennessee and across the country, afterschool programs are providing the STEM education and engagement that students need to succeed in school and in life," Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant said. "Afterschool is an optimal setting for STEM because it creates opportunities for students to explore their interests and apply STEM skills to real-world problems through hands-on, team-based engagement outside of the school day. "We commend the afterschool providers in Tennessee for the remarkable work they are doing. But too many children and youth are shut out of afterschool programs altogether, and reversing that is essential to ensuring that Tennessee youth and its economy can thrive." Nationally, the study finds 92% of parents of afterschool students now report their children have STEM learning opportunities in their afterschool program, but students in rural communities and low-income families lag behind. According to the release, Tennessee results mirror the national findings, which include: Children in families with low incomes are less likely to have multiple exposures to STEM in afterschool each week than those whose families have higher incomes. Less than half of parents with low incomes, or 48%, say their child engages in STEM in afterschool multiple times per week, compared to 56% of parents with middle incomes and 60% of parents with high incomes. Rural parents report fewer computer science and technology opportunities in afterschool. Just 70% of rural parents with a child in an afterschool program report the program offers computer science, compared to 88% of urban parents. Similarly, just 66% of rural parents with a child in an afterschool program report the program offers technology education, compared to 86% of urban parents. Two in three parents with children in afterschool programs value STEM "extremely" or "somewhat" when selecting a program – but there are differences by race. Native American parents (73%), Black and Hispanic parents (70%), and Asian American parents (68%) place greater importance on STEM in afterschool than White families (62%). Parents today report that 93% of male children and 91% of females have STEM opportunities in afterschool. But there are differences in how much parents of boys and girls prioritize different STEM subjects, with 63% of boy parents placing greater importance on computer science, technology, and engineering, compared to just 53%, 56%, and 58%, respectively, of girl parents. The findings are based on research funded by Overdeck Family Foundation. More information is available at https://aa3pm.co.