Introduction
School-age child care is any supervised, regular program or care setting for children ages 5 (who are enrolled in kindergarten) to 12. Families use school-age child care for a variety of reasons when their children are not in school or cared for by a parent/guardian. Often, families need a safe place for their children while they are at work. They might also choose school-age child care programs because they provide a structured schedule, offer educational opportunities, or allow children to build skills or pursue interests.
Purpose
This edition of Ask the Researchers uses a question-and-answer format to address five key questions about school-age child care. Research-based information is summarized to address these questions:
- What is school-age child care? Why do families need it?
How accessible is school-age child care?
What features do families prioritize when selecting school-age child care?
What are some features of high-quality school-age child care programs?
- What kinds of outcomes do children have when they participate in school-age child care?
Key Findings and Highlights
- Many families struggle to access school-age child care due to limited availability and high costs.
- When families are choosing school-age child care, they need and want different things beyond finding a safe place for their child.
- Research shows that how adults interact with children is a key part of high-quality afterschool programming,
- Participating in high-quality school-age child care programs is associated with positive developmental outcomes for children, including better academic performance, improved social-emotional skills, and enhanced physical health.
Citation
Bredeson, M. (2025). Ask the Researchers About School-Age Child Care. OPRE Report #2025-049. Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.