In Lawrence, Massachusetts, there is a lack of affordable before- and after-school programs for low-income families. In 2023, Lawrence had a population of 88,174 people. Of these people, 16.9% lived below the poverty line, and 28% were children under 18. The median household income was $58,079. As shown in this data, there is a high rate of poverty in Lawrence. These low-income households struggle to provide basic necessities for their children. Why should they have to pay for expensive childcare alongside that? Limited access to childcare provides instability in a child's life, which leads to toxic stress, therefore limiting their academic success. This issue of affordable before- and after-school programs does not only affect families immediately - it also affects children's future safety, academic success, and long-term outcomes. 

Toxic stress is experienced when an individual experiences instability in their life, among other things. Experiencing toxic stress at an early age may cause severe developmental issues in children. The child’s nervous system, immune system, and DNA may change because of this extended stress response. Toxic stress has been associated with a reduction in hippocampal volume, which is a part of the brain that is crucial in learning, memory, and executive function. Children in Lawrence experience the stressors of a possible difficult language-barrier, housing instability, and hardships with access to food. Stable, consistent routines for children who experience these stressors is an important way to combat the different stressors that they experience on a daily basis. Affordable before- and after-school programs offer a stable routine and structure that children can experience on a daily basis. These programs offer academic support, mentoring, and a safe environment for children to spend time in. The benefits of steadily attending before- and after-school programs are numerous.

Lawrence officials, Lawrence Public Schools, and Massachusetts Senators must make this change to expand funding for before- and after-school programs. The benefits for the children of Lawrence are numerous: increased academic success, decrease in toxic stress, mentoring, and a safe environment for these children, just to name a few. This investment into these programs not only affects children, but it also aids these parents in need. By expanding funding for these programs, Lawrence will see a difference in the safety, academic success, and long-term outcomes in children and families. Increased funding is a step towards equal opportunities for all, and we must make this step towards this change.