JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At least 70 after-school programs are now available to elementary and middle school students in Duval County.
"The programs are very affordable, they're free," explained Jon Heymann, CEO of Jacksonville Children's Commission.
The programs are available in 35 out of the 103 elementary schools and 14 of the 24 middle schools in Duval County.
"We have zero programs in high school, and we need to change that," Heymann said. "The more funding we get, the more students we can serve. It's getting better."
The first hour of the programs is focused on education, so the children can do their homework. The next two hours are for extracurricular activities, explained Heymann.
"We have activities ranging from STEM club, to dance or step teams, and a variety of sports," he said.
JCC said students who participate in after-school programs have better attendance rates and higher promotion rates to the next level than non-participants.
All of the program sites are staffed with certified teachers and youth development staff.
Five new sites are now available this year at Windy Hill, Jacksonville Heights, Ramona Elementary, San Jose Elementary, and Hyde Park Elementary.
There is a small fee for children to attend the programs at elementary schools. Transportation is available for middle school children.
To learn more about how to enroll your child, go to jaxkids.net.