Washington, D.C. – Ninety-three percent of parents in Maryland now report their child’s afterschool program offers STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning opportunities – an increase from 59% in 2014. Today, 136,200 Maryland students are getting STEM education in their afterschool program. But approximately 3 in 4 Maryland children and youth whose parents want afterschool programs for them (74%) are not enrolled at all.
Afterschool STEM Takes Off, released today by the Afterschool Alliance, finds increases in STEM in afterschool from 2014 to 2025 in every state. It is based on a survey of 30,515 U.S. parents of school-age children who live in their households, conducted by Edge Research – including 496 in Maryland. It finds that most Maryland parents recognize the value of STEM education in afterschool, with 76% agreeing that afterschool programs help children gain STEM interests and skills. Afterschool STEM Takes Off finds STEM education in Maryland is most often taking place at afterschool programs based at a public or charter school or Boys & Girls Club.
But the new study finds that how often children engage with STEM in afterschool varies. Fifty-one percent of Maryland parents report their child engages with STEM in afterschool at least two to three times per week. That compares to 54% nationally, with low-income parents across the country reporting significantly less frequency than parents with higher incomes. In Maryland, 90% of parents report their child’s afterschool program is offering math, compared to just 76% who report it is providing technology and computer science activities.
“In Maryland and across the country, afterschool programs are providing the STEM education and engagement that students need to succeed in school and in life,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Afterschool is an optimal setting for STEM because it creates opportunities for students to explore their interests and apply STEM skills to real-world problems through hands-on, team-based engagement outside of the school day. We commend the afterschool providers in Maryland for the remarkable work they are doing. But too many children and youth are shut out of afterschool programs altogether, and reversing that is essential to ensuring that Maryland youth and its economy can thrive.”
“There is good news in this new report. Maryland afterschool programs have stepped up in a big way and are meeting the challenge to prepare our children and youth to be STEM-literate citizens who can succeed in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Ellie Mitchell, Executive Director of Maryland Out of School Time Network (MOST). “But we need the resources to do more to ensure that all our state’s young people can access the afterschool and summer learning programs that will help them thrive, and that these programs thoroughly engage them in all the STEM subjects. We will work with local and state lawmakers and our many partners in our communities to ensure we can continue the progress.”
Nationally, the study finds 92% of parents of afterschool students now report their children have STEM learning opportunities in their afterschool program, but students in rural communities and low-income families lag behind. In most respects, Maryland results mirror the national findings, which include:
- Children in families with low incomes are less likely to have multiple exposures to STEM in afterschool each week than those whose families have higher incomes. Less than half of parents with low incomes (48%) say their child engages in STEM in afterschool multiple times per week, compared to 56% of parents with middle incomes and 60% of parents with high incomes.
- Rural parents report fewer computer science and technology opportunities in afterschool. Just 70% of rural parents with a child in an afterschool program report the program offers computer science, compared to 88% of urban parents. Similarly, just 66% of rural parents with a child in an afterschool program report the program offers technology education, compared to 86% of urban parents.
- Two in three parents with children in afterschool programs (65%) value STEM extremely or somewhat when selecting a program – but there are differences by race. Native American parents (73%), Black and Hispanic parents (70%), and Asian American parents (68%) place greater importance on STEM in afterschool than White families (62%).
- Parents of boys and girls report similar levels of access to STEM in their child’s afterschool program, but parents of girls prioritize computer science, technology, and engineering less than parents of boys. Parents today report that 93% of male children and 91% of females have STEM opportunities in afterschool. But there are differences in how much parents of boys and girls prioritize different STEM subjects, with 63% of boy parents placing greater importance on computer science, technology, and engineering, compared to just 53%, 56%, and 58%, respectively, of girl parents.
The national and Maryland America After 3PM 2025 STEM findings and accompanying data are available at https://aa3pm.co. This fifth edition of America After 3PM is based on a survey conducted in English and Spanish using a mixed-mode methodology to reach as many households as possible. Data were collected between January 31 and April 21, 2025. The margin of error for the child- and household-level data is +/- < 1 percent. Previous America After 3PM surveys were conducted in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2020.
The America After 3PM STEM findings are based on research funded by Overdeck Family Foundation.
# # # #
About the Afterschool Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
About Overdeck Family Foundation
Founded in 2011, Overdeck Family Foundation aims to provide all children the opportunity to unlock their potential. The Foundation partners with education organizations dedicated to helping more children enter school ready to thrive, succeed in literacy and math, and develop the skills and agency to shape their futures. To learn more, visit https://overdeck.org/.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!