After school hours are a crucial time for today's youth. Juveniles are at the highest risk for committing crimes and using drugs and alcohol after classes are out. School programs after school offer a safe and secure environment and turn the time for juvenile crime into hours of academic enrichment, wholesome fun, and community service.

In Lynda Barry's essay, "The Sanctuary of School" she states that a good education system saves lives, but the people of this country are still told that cutting the budget for public schools is necessary. The first things that must go due to the budget cuts are art, music, and all creative activities, which includes all before and after school programs. "It's a lot cheaper to pay now for after-school programs than to pay later to put a kid in jail," states Gil Kerlikowske, Chief of Police, Seattle. Unfortunately, not enough quality after...