NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group is being formed to promote afterschool programs in Tennessee.
United Ways of Tennessee and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth will gather at the state Capitol in Nashville on Thursday to help launch the Tennessee Afterschool Network.
It will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, parents and business leaders, to advocate for and support afterschool programs.
Mary Graham is president of United Ways of Tennessee.
She says research shows that students participating in high-quality afterschool programs have better school attendance, grades and standard test performance compared with students who do not participate in such programs.
Recent figures show nearly 300,000 Tennessee K-12 students are responsible for taking care of themselves after school.
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