Demand for Programs in Wisconsin Is at an All-Time High
PITTSVILLE, WISCONSIN — (June 25, 2025) — At a time when demand for afterschool programs is higher than ever in Wisconsin, state leaders, educators, and community advocates gathered on Tuesday for a “State of Afterschool” roundtable. The event aimed to raise awareness about the growing threats to afterschool funding and the critical role these programs play in supporting children, families, and communities.
Organized by the Wisconsin Partnership for Children and Youth and hosted at the Pittsville School District office, the roundtable event invited state legislative representatives as well as community and educational leaders. Gregg Wavrunek from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office and Laura Adams, policy initiatives advisor in the Office of the State Superintendent, attended the event, where leaders discussed the critical need for programs, urgent funding and staffing challenges, and next steps for protecting afterschool in Wisconsin.
Recent proposals to eliminate key federal funding streams—including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLC) program that serves more than 19,000 youth across the state—and staffing disruptions caused by the reduction in AmeriCorps placements have left rural communities especially vulnerable.
“CLC grant programs allow schools to be innovative and contribute to high levels of engagement. In fact, according to the 2024 Wisconsin CCLC report, 62% of learners participating in a Wisconsin CLC program improved their regular school day attendance. Cuts to this funding means cuts to service, which would likely lead to a decrease in engagement and attendance, which would then lead to lower academic achievement. Cutting this funding means taking away opportunities from our kids. Our Wisconsin school districts are in an impossible situation with the uncertainty around both federal and state funding,” reflected Adams.
In Pittsville, students’ academic achievement improved after the afterschool program, funded by the CLC program, launched two years ago. This echoes new national research showing that young people who attend afterschool programs get better grades, go to school more often, make gains in math and reading, are more likely to graduate, have higher incomes as adults, and discover their passions.
“With 28 years in education, I can tell you wraparound care makes a difference,” said Jason Knott, superintendent of the Pittsville School District. “Kids get a snack, enrichment opportunities, and homework help. Since starting the before and afterschool programs, the district has moved up to exceeding expectations on the state report card and is now in the top 11 percent of districts in the state. If this funding goes away, we will need to figure out a way to keep this program going. It’s too important.”
Many afterschool and summer programs in Wisconsin rely on AmeriCorps members to operate at full capacity. Without them, programs are cutting hours, turning away students, or closing altogether. Pittsville’s afterschool coordinator, Ron Klein, said his program applied to staff AmeriCorps members at their site: “We applied, and a week later AmeriCorps was gone.”
Kyle Clower, the communications and government affairs officer with Serve Wisconsin, described the current fragile state of AmeriCorps funding. “We are excited that grants were restored to our AmeriCorps programs here in Wisconsin following the preliminary injunction, but funding is zeroed out in the federal budget proposed by the president for the next fiscal year, so our ability to continue supporting out-of-school-time programming is still not fully secure.”
Megan Miroslaw, who manages the AmeriCorps program at the Community Health at Marshfield Clinic, said AmeriCorps is an opportunity to help young professionals as well as increase staff capacity at afterschool programs. “It helps young people to get their foot in the door and get real experience.”
These afterschool funding threats come as demand for programs is higher than ever. For every child enrolled in a program in Wisconsin, two more are waiting to get in. That’s 267,000 children who would attend a program if one were available to them.
“We are in a child care desert; there are no child care centers. Afterschool programs are not just about providing a safe place for kids; they are vital for families to thrive,” said Linda Lowry, coordinator of the Cardinal After-School Program at Necedah Elementary School, which is supported through CLC funds.
During the roundtable event, afterschool providers and parents shared stories about how their programs help students succeed academically, develop lifelong skills, and develop new passions.
Klein spoke about his program with pride, describing a child who didn’t want to come to school until he started in the afterschool program, staff using cribbage as a way to teach children math skills, and an older child teaching younger children how to do a drumline. These programs are places of expanded learning and fun, Klein said. Program coordinators from Waukesha and Madison noted that these programs also allow young people to explore careers and develop richer relationships with their peers as well as staff.
Parents were also invited to join the roundtable to share their personal experiences with afterschool programs.
“I have twin boys in the program. It helps my wife and I out. In a perfect world, either she or I would be home, but we need the two incomes to get by. My boys are happy to be there. They have friends and are excited to talk about what they did each day. Programs like this also cut down on screen time. Without afterschool, kids are losing out on valuable interaction skills. They are losing out on learning how to talk to one another,” said parent Justin Krenn.
Senator Baldwin sent remarks about the current state of afterschool funding. “When children have a safe space to learn and grow after school, it helps parents stay in the workforce and gives those kids the strong start they need and deserve,” she said. “I’ve seen how beneficial afterschool programs are—especially in our rural communities. Thank you to all [Ameri]Corps members, educators, and program staff who step up every day. I’m proud to be your partner in fighting back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut programs that Wisconsin families depend on.”
Afterschool programs garner strong support among parents and caregivers across the state. According to a survey from the Afterschool Alliance, 96% of Wisconsin parents are satisfied with their child’s afterschool program, and 85% overwhelmingly support public funding for afterschool. A majority of parents also agree that afterschool keeps kids safe and out of trouble and helps working parents keep their jobs.
To learn more about afterschool in Wisconsin, visit wiafterschoolnetwork.org.
