According to a new study of a voter-approved afterschool program in California, every dollar invested in afterschool programs would save taxpayers approximately $3 in future costs such as child care, remedial education, and criminal justice. Analysts also determined that attending an afterschool program is likely to increase a student’s earnings after high school and reduce costs to the state welfare program.
The study, conducted by the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College, provides a cost/benefit analysis of the California ballot measure commonly known as Proposition 49, which would provide grants to elementary and middle schools for afterschool programs. When fully funded, it will provide $433 million in additional state funds for afterschool programs, but revenues would not increase until the economy improves enough to provide the state with additional revenue to fund the program.
Read the complete report, The Costs and Benefits of Afterschool Programs.