Before- and afterschool programs play a critical role in keeping school-aged children safe, supporting their development, and helping working families—especially those that work non-traditional hours. We know that the need for before- and afterschool care is greater than the available supply. Data from the Afterschool Alliance shows that nearly 25 million students cannot access afterschool programs, with availability and expense cited as the primary obstacles to participation. As a result of these barriers, 7.7 million children are alone and unsupervised after school.