Are you up for the Challenge?

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Are you up for the Challenge?

By Erik Peterson Posted: Jan 28, 2013

Next week on Feb. 7, the Afterschool for All Challenge is an opportunity to raise your voice right in your own community to support the quality afterschool and summer learning programs that inspire young people to learn, support working families and keep children safe. Over the last 11 years several thousand parents, educators, young people and afterschool champions have come to Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill to make the case that afterschool, before school and summer learning programs are critical to the success of young people and a lifeline for parents.

This year we are changing it up and not asking advocates to travel to Washington, D.C., for the Afterschool for All Challenge. Because budgets are tight and times are uncertain at afterschool programs we are instead calling on friends of afterschool programs to call, meet in home district offices and email Congress on Afterschool for All Challenge day: Feb. 7, 2013. Here in Washington, we will be backing up your outreach at home through face-to-face meetings with Congress, as we team up with over 40 state teams who will be in Washington for the conference of the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks.

The results of the last 11 years of afterschool advocacy are clear: federal support for afterschool and summer learning through the 21^st CCLC has grown—from being able to help 40,000 students access support in 1998 to helping more than 1 million young people last year. We know afterschool works and champions of afterschool are excellent at making the case:

The Promising Afterschool Programs Study found that regular participation in high-quality afterschool programs is linked to significant gains in standardized test scores and work habits. (University of California, Irvine, 2007)
A meta analysis of 68 afterschool studies concluded that high quality afterschool programs can lead to improved attendance, behavior and coursework. Students participating in a high quality afterschool program went to school more, behaved better, received better grades and did better on tests compared to non-participating students. (Durlak, Weissberg & Pachan, 2010)
The Promising Afterschool Programs Study found that students reported improved social and behavioral outcomes: elementary students reported reductions in aggressive behavior toward other students and skipping school; middle school students reported reduced use of drugs and alcohol, compared to their routinely unsupervised peers. (Policy Studies Associates, Inc., 2007)

Register online today to take the Afterschool for All Challenge in your own community. Set up your meetings and join us in calling on Congress to commit to afterschool:

1. Support funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Child Care Development Fund in 2013.

If sequestration goes into effect on March 2 approximately 100,000 young people could lose access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs.
Discretionary programs have already contributed $1.5 trillion in spending cuts from the Fiscal Year 2011 continuing resolution, the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011 and the bipartisan American Taxpayer Relief Act.
Now is the time to invest in our young people through programs like 21^st CCLC so they are prepared to lead the nation in the future.

2. Co-sponsor reintroduction of the bipartisan Afterschool for America's Children Act.

The bill reauthorizes the 21st CCLC program and supports quality afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs that enhance and complement the school day through engaging, hands-on, experiential learning activities.
Builds upon strong partnerships between schools and community- and faith-based organizations through shared data and resources.
Promotes professional development and training of afterschool program staff.

3. Join the Afterschool Caucus.

Invite members of Congress to join more than 100 of their peers in serving on the House and Senate Afterschool Caucuses. Membership on the Caucus signifies a commitment to afterschool, before-school and summer learning program opportunities for young people.