Types of Afterschool Programs in Maine
Maine’s out-of-school time field is made up of a wide range of providers — from child care centers and family child care homes to public schools, municipal programs, libraries, and community organizations. This diversity reflects the many different ways Maine communities have stepped up to support children and families during the hours outside of school.
Child care centers represent the largest share of providers at 32.7%, and together with family child care homes at 8.8%, care-based settings account for more than four in ten programs statewide. For many Maine families, out-of-school time and child care are not separate concerns — they are the same one. Schools represent 15.6% of providers, a figure that reflects the growing role of school buildings as anchors for out-of-school time programming. Municipal programs account for 11.9%, YMCAs and YWCAs 9.2%, with libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, and community-based organizations rounding out the landscape. Only 8% of Maine’s programs receive dedicated federal funding through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. The overwhelming majority of providers are sustaining their work through a combination of local, state, and private support.
The Maine Afterschool Network works to connect and align providers across the state, promoting quality and ensuring that Maine’s out-of-school time field moves forward together. When programs are stronger, children are safer, perform better academically, develop the social and emotional skills they need to thrive, and are better prepared for their futures. Families have reliable, quality care — and the peace of mind that comes with it.
Afterschool Programs in Demand, But Out of Reach for Many
Demand for programs is enormous. In Maine, the demand for afterschool programs is incredibly high. But just a fraction of Maine families who want afterschool programs have them. Parents value the benefits afterschool programs provide for young people—keeping them safe, helping them build life skills, and getting them excited about learning—and say afterschool programs help parents keep their jobs and provide peace of mind. For every one child in an afterschool program in Maine 4 are waiting to get in.
Parents recognize the benefits for kids—safety, skills, and school engagement—plus peace of mind for working parents.
Parent satisfaction has reached the highest level ever, with 95% of parents satisfied with their child’s afterschool program, and parents cite broad benefits, from keeping kids safe to improving school attendance. And 4 in 5 parents say having afterschool programs helps them keep their jobs.
Quality out-of-school time programs make a measurable difference for children and families. For kids, the benefits are wide-ranging — 87% of parents report programs encourage fun and learning while decreasing screen time, 80% say programs build social skills and responsible decision making, and 76% note improvements in teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership. Programs also keep kids safe (74%), support their overall well-being (74%), and excite them about learning while improving school attendance (70%).
Parents feel the difference too. Among parents with a child enrolled in an out-of-school time program, 88% report a positive impact on their overall well-being, 85% say they experience less stress knowing their child is safe, 80% report a boost in their productivity at work, and 72% say programs help them keep their job or work more hours.
Maine parents recognize this value. With a quality rating of 3.96 out of 5, 81% of Maine parents rate their child’s out-of-school time program as excellent or very good.
Read the full America After 3pm Maine Afterschool Brief
