A new report compiled by U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln's office and released today shows that more than 200,000 children in Arkansas spend their after school hours without the supervision of an adult, according to a news release from Lincoln's office.

Lincoln recently introduced the After school Partnerships Improve Results in Education (or ASPIRE) Act to provide a new funding stream for after school programs to reach more students of middle and high school age in lower-income or rural areas.

"This legislation's focus on middle and high school-age students is a wonderful, and greatly needed, emphasis," said Rich Huddleston, Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. "Research indicates that middle-school students are at great risk for school disciplinary problems that translate into future dropouts, and serving high school students will require unique approaches to keep them engaged.

The Lincoln report released today shows that of the approximately 343,000 school children in Arkansas with all parents in their household in the labor force, only 60,000 (or 17 percent) are in after school programs. At the same time, 44 percent of Arkansas parents say they would enroll their children in an after school program if one was more available.

The report also shows a direct correlation between a family's median income and the percentage of students who graduate college. In Arkansas, both of these figures are below the national average. However, because after school programs can serve as important tools for preparing Arkansas's youth for college and the workforce, these programs can also have a direct, positive impact on the financial stability of Arkansas's families and the state's overall competitiveness.

Read Senator Lincoln's new county-by-county report that underscores the need for quality afterschool programs for Arkansas youth.

• In Central Arkansas, approximately 73,607 children live in households in which all parents are in the labor force. In the after school hours, approximately 47,291 of these children care for themselves or are in the care of a sibling.
• In Southeast Arkansas, approximately 75,168 children live in households in which all parents are in the labor force. In the after school hours, nearly 25,000 of these children care for themselves or are in the care of a sibling.
• In Southwest Arkansas, approximately 35,715 children live in households in which all parents are in the labor force. In the after school hours, approximately 23,360 of these children care for themselves or are in the care of a sibling.
• In Northeast Arkansas, over 60,000 children live in households in which all parents are in the labor force. In the after school hours, approximately 40,689 of these children care for themselves or are in the care of a sibling.
• In Northwest Arkansas, approximately 98,596 children live in households in which all parents are in the labor force. In the after school hours, nearly 74,000 of these children care for themselves or are in the care of a sibling.