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Does the cost of school sports & activities limit participation?

Participating in school sports, clubs, and arts has well-established health and social benefits for middle and high school students. But due to budget constraints, many of these activities aren’t free – and between school pay-to-participate fees, travel, and other expenses, the cost of participation has become a barrier that keeps some students out of school activities.

Previous NPCH Reports in 2012 and 2015 focused on the how the cost of school sports impacts participation. Parents from households earning less than $60,000/year cited cost as the reason their child decreased participation more commonly than parents from higher-income households. Next week, we’ll release our latest NPCH Report looking at participation in all school activities – including clubs and arts as well as sports. Sign up for our email list to make sure you get the report as soon as it’s released.

What do you think?
Has the cost of school activities impacted your child’s participation? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @csmottpoll.