When school day ends, danger begins for many young people

It is the end of the school day. When the last bell rings, nearly 2,500 area children will leave their classrooms about 3 p.m. In the United States, some 53 million students will depart their schools. Some will go home to a parent, some will go to an extra-curricular program and some will go to work.

But many some 15 million throughout the country will go it alone. Lacking adult supervision or access to an after-school program, these young people will be in danger. We know from numerous studies and statistics that the rate of juvenile-related crime actually doubles during the hours after schoo...