In Illinois, 3 in 4 families who want afterschool can't get it

Illinois has the fifth-largest unmet afterschool demand in the nation. Per the Afterschool Alliance's America After 3PM data, 287,341 Illinois children (15%) are in an afterschool program, while 856,853 more would be enrolled if one were available — about 3 in 4 of the families who want it.

What's paying for programs

Illinois's 21st Century Community Learning Centers allocation for FY2026 is $56,108,973 across 196 programs, serving 58,823 youth. The FY2027 President's proposed budget lists $0 for the program statewide — a cut that would widen an already-large gap.

Finding a program in Illinois

• Browse by city, county, and district on our [Illinois directory](/illinois/).
• See [how to choose an afterschool program](/guides/how-to-choose-an-after-school-program/) for what to look for and what to ask.
• Keep learning going at home tonight with a free, standards-aligned lesson.

Every figure above is drawn from the linked public sources — no estimates.