California was recently named the top state in the country at providing top-quality afterschool programs. According to the Afterschool Alliance report, after-school participation in California had increased to 25 percent in 2013, up from 19 percent in 2009.
MESA understands the importance of after school programs, especially for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. According to Ed Source:
- About 20 percent of the country’s children – 11.3 million – are unsupervised between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- The need is greatest for low-income, African-American and Latino students
- About 47 percent of low-income children in California are participating
- The average cost of after-school programs was $114 per week in 2013-14, more than twice as much as 10 years ago
MESA offers high-quality, enrichment programs, free of charge to 228 schools throughout California. These students receive hands-on project-based learning that reinforce the core concepts they learn in math and science classes. They curriculum is New Generation Science Standard and Common Core aligned and introduces students to the possibility of STEM majors and careers.
Find out if a MESA center near you offers after school programming, with our map tool.