National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE)

Challenge

Afterschool and summer learning programs are critical to supporting the development of children, but low-income families are often unable to afford these valuable programs or find high-quality care.

To address these gaps, EDC supported state agencies and other stakeholders in expanding the supply of care for school-age children (ages 5–12) through the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment (NCASE). NCASE was part of an integrated Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System of national centers working on behalf of the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Serving states, territories, and tribal communities, NCASE worked to increase access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning experiences for school-age children in families of low income.

Key Activities

NCASE provided training and technical assistance through the following activities:

• Developed and disseminated materials on key topics and promising practices in afterschool care and summer learning
• Provided training and technical assistance to help state agencies supported by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) improve the quality and supply of afterschool and summer learning programs
• Researched the state of the afterschool workforce and identified promising practices for staff recruitment and retention
• Collaborated with national centers and networks of afterschool stakeholders to achieve the broadest possible impact

Our Impact

• Helped afterschool and summer learning programs improve children’s health, safety, and overall development in all 50 states; the District of Columbia; U.S. territories; and American Indian, Alaska Native, and migrant/seasonal communities
• Supported state, territory, and tribal agencies in improving program access and quality to benefit more than 1 million school-age children in families of low-income who use CCDF subsidies to pay for child care each year