A recent study by Edge Research for Afterschool Alliance highlights the challenges Hawaii parents face in enrolling their children in structured summer programs. Key findings include:
- Enrollment Gap: Out of 88,692 children whose parents want them in summer programs, only 44,464 can enroll.
- High Parental Satisfaction: 93% of parents are satisfied with their child’s program.
- Support for Funding: 94% of parents favor public funding for summer programs, with strong bipartisan support.
- Barriers: The primary barriers include cost (38%), transportation issues (25%), and program unavailability (11%).
Experts emphasize the need for increased support from various sectors to ensure all children can access quality summer programs.
