At the March 16 task force meeting, the Alaska After School Network said roughly 17,000 Alaska children participate in after‑school programs but that closures and funding limits have created thousands of lost slots and long waiting lists; transportation and affordability were flagged as primary barriers to access.

The Alaska After School Network told lawmakers that statewide demand for organized out‑of‑school programming greatly exceeds capacity, program closures have removed thousands of slots, and transportation and funding shortfalls limit access for low‑ and middle‑income families.