Schools are the gateway to learning for America's students.
Children spend up to one-third of their day in school and learn the skills needed to prepare them for the future. Yet, research shows that it's a child's activities during the remainder of their free time that has the most critical impact on their long-term success at school and at work. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the late afternoon is when youth ages of 12 and 17 are most likely to commit or be victims of violent crime. What students need are safe, supervised learning and community centers for after-school, weekend and summer enrichment. America's schools are a perfect venue for such programs.