School's out: a quick guide to finding a summer program
Summer is the longest stretch of the year for working parents to cover, and the Afterschool Alliance's research consistently finds it's also when demand for programs is highest and hardest to meet. If you're scrambling to fill June through August, here's a quick playbook.
Start close, then widen out
- Your school district. Many districts run summer school, enrichment, or camp-style programs — often free or low-cost for families who qualify. Ask the front office before it fills up.
- 21st CCLC sites. The federal afterschool program funds summer learning too. If your child's school participates, summer programming is usually free. See our [guide to 21st CCLC funding](/guides/understanding-21st-cclc-funding/).
- Community anchors. Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, 4-H, libraries, and parks-and-rec departments run many of the most affordable summer programs. Your state's afterschool network (on every [state page](/states)) often lists them.
What to check before you commit
Cost and scholarships, hours and transportation, meals, and what your child will actually do all day. Our [how to choose a program](/guides/how-to-choose-an-after-school-program/) checklist works just as well for summer.
Keep skills from sliding
Even a few weeks off can dull reading and math. A light routine prevents the "summer slide" — see our [summer-slide plan](/blog/beat-the-summer-slide/) for a 20-minutes-a-day approach.
And if a program isn't an option this summer, you can keep learning going at home with free, standards-aligned lessons for any subject — built in seconds, whenever you need one.