Enrichment accounts open summer options for needy kids
School will soon be out for the summer. For many youngsters, that means summer camps, arts workshops, and trips to the museum. Such activities can be expensive. Sleepaway camps can cost thousands per child for just a single week. Day camps run hundreds of dollars. Private lessons aren’t cheap, either.
Low-income children have less access to these activities. Tight budgets mean they’re often left out of extracurriculars that would support their development and build social and life skills. According to the Census Bureau, just 24 percent of children living in poverty participate in youth sports versus 57 percent of their more affluent peers. Academically talented low-income students lose opportunities to strengthen their STEM skills through science camps or refine their poetic prowess through writer’s workshops.
Squandered out-ofschool time is more troubling in the aftermath of the pandemic, which has taken an incredible toll on disadvantaged students. They’ve suffered months of learning loss and increased mental-health challenges. In Dayton Public Schools, for example, just 19 percent of third graders passed their state reading exam in spring 2021. Using time wisely, including this summer, is essential to getting students back on track.
Last year, Ohio lawmakers approved $125 million in spending that unlocks valuable opportunities. Low- and middle-income parents can open an Afterschool Childhood Enrichment (ACE) account that puts $500 in their pockets. This can defray the costs of tutoring, field trips, private lessons, and afterschool or summer programs.
Families earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($79,500 for a family of four) with children age six to 18 attending public or private schools, or homeschooling may apply. Funds are awarded on a firstcome, first-serve basis until the dollars run out. Applications are being accepted.
This opportunity needs to be widely known and area leaders should help to get the word out. The region’s afterschool and summer learning providers can also help parents searching for opportunities by participating in the program’s online marketplace.
Ohio needs to provide exceptional customer service to parents. They may have questions about which types of expenses are allowed or how to correctly document spending. The state will need to clearly communicate program expectations and offer parents assistance.
Policymakers should work to safeguard the program’s integrity. The food stamp program, which operates much like ACE, has a reputation for solid quality control. Likewise, ACE needs to ensure the proper use of funds.
Ohio legislators must find sustainable funding to preserve or enlarge the program. Accounts are being funded via the massive COVID-relief packages. Starting in 2024, the legislature will need to set-aside state dollars for ACE.
Learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings. It’s great that many students have resources to make good use of their out-ofschool time. Now with extra help on tap, more students can as well.