The Importance of Affordable Childcare

FOR MANY PARENTS, THE COST OF AFTER-SCHOOL CHILDCARE CAN BE A SIZABLE EXPENSE IN FLORIDA. THE AVERAGE COST FOR A STUDENT TO ATTEND AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM COULD BE 50 TO $60 PER CHILD PER WEEK, BUT AS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS REPORTER ELIZABETH AND RG LEARNED ONE FORT MYERS SCHOOL FORMED A PARTNERSHIP THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS THE KIDS ENTERTAINED BUT KEEPS LEARNING EXPERIENCE GOING AS WELL. AND WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PARENTS. >> EVERY AFTERNOON A VAN PULLS UP OUTSIDE. I'M AG HISTORY AND SCIENCE CENTER DOORS OPEN AND OUT COMES KIDS FROM FRANKLIN PARK ELEMENTARY BACKPACKS, SNEAKERS READY TO GO. THIS IS THEIR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND IT DOESN'T COST THEIR FAMILIES. >> THING THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT >> TSAI AND THEY'RE DOING TECHNOLOGY TYPE THINGS. THEY'RE GOING ALL TYPES OF PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS THAT THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO AND PROGRAMS THAT WE DO PROVIDE AT THE SCHOOL. >> FRANKLIN PARK, PRINCIPAL ME A GERMAN SHARES, THE IMAC FRANKLIN PARKS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. AND UNITED WAY BUILT SOMETHING UNIQUE, FREE TRANSPORTATION, FREE PROGRAMMING, FREE SNACKS. EVERY DAY UNTIL 06:00PM INSIDE KITS MOVED TO THE MUSEUM LIKE IT BELONGS TO THEM FOR A FEW HOURS EVERY DAY. IT KIND OF THOSE. NOBODY KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN AND TRAVIS ARCHBOLD. >> AND ONE THING ABOUT A MOUNTAIN MAN BACK IN WITH THAT. THAT'S SO LOW. EVEN DURING THE SUMMER. BUT YOU CAN'T GET THE SHOT. IRAQ'S ALLOWABLE TODAY HAVE PEOPLE ARE YEAH CORRECTLY WRONG. WE'RE ONLY AT AROUND 05:00AM WRONG. NO, I'M HERE. >> AND WHAT ISLAND IS THAT ONE OF THE THEORIES IS THAT. >> WE STARTED DEVELOPING FROM THE HEAD TO THE LAKES AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT REALLY DEVELOP IS OUR FINGERS AND OUR TOES. >> THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. THE LEARNING SNEAKS UP ON YOU. JAYLA OUTLAW CAME HERE FOR THE SCIENCE. SHE LEFT THAT SOMETHING ELSE TOO. >> I MEAN, TIME AND WE GET BY WITH THE BLOCKS AND WE GET TO PLAY LOOK LIKE A LITTLE LIKE ALONE AHL'S AND THE PLAY TAG THERE. AND WE HAVE A LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ON. AND I HAVE FUN WITH MY QUIET TIME TO CAUSE. AND THAT CAN JUST FEEL LIKE REALLY FOCUS MY HOMEWORK AND GET IT. AND >> FOR FAMILIES OF FRANKLIN PARK, THIS PROGRAM IS BUILT ON A PARTNERSHIP. THE BELIEVES EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M ELISBETH ANDARGE