For the fourth year in a row, President Trump's budget calls for the elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program - the only dedicated source of federal funding for afterschool and summer learning programs.
If the president's budget is passed, nearly two million children and families are at risk of losing the programs they rely on. Congress will decide what happens next—and it's more important than ever for afterschool supporters like you to speak out and share why afterschool matters to you, your family, and your community.
You can take action right now to let your representatives know that afterschool and summer learning programs are invaluable to your community. Use any of these easy tools to send pre-written messages to your representatives.
As we all learn how best to navigate the COVID-19 outbreak, we understand that afterschool programs, their staff, their kids, and their communities are vulnerable to the widespread changes our country will face over the next days, weeks, and possibly months. Our leaders MUST know what challenges the afterschool field faces - both to keep us safe and ensure we can best serve our communities through this moment.
Use the sample language below to show your support:
Congress needs to hear from you! Telling your personal story about the impact an afterschool program has made on your life is by far the most effective way to capture people's attention and convince them that #AfterschoolWorks.
There are plenty of ways to tell your story. Here are a few ideas:
No matter how you choose to share your story, remember to:
In addition to answering these prompts yourself, encourage your students, parents, and alumni to share their stories!
Make the case that federal funding for afterschool programs is important to you community, has wide public support, and are proven to help kids learn and grow while supporting working families. Use these resources to tell your story:
You can download a selection of graphics for use on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more from AfterschoolforAmerica.org:
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Infographics for each state showing how many students would lose access to afterschool programs if 21st CCLC is eliminated
Get GraphicsSUBJECT LINE: ADMINISTRATION SLASHES FUNDING FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
Breaking news: President Trump's budget plan zeroes out federal afterschool funding for 2 million young people.
Please take two minutes to tell your representatives in Congress to stand up for America's children, families, and afterschool options.
The threat is real, but it's up to Congress to determine whether local afterschool and summer learning programs remain open or close their doors. If the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative is eliminated, many programs will not survive.
With your help, Congress has thrice rejected the proposed elimination. Take action now.
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The Afterschool Alliance is working to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs. Afterschool programs are critical to children and families today, yet the need for programs is far from being met. Learn more
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