Bipartisan 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 introduced in Senate, would provide $1.2B in additional funding

On October 26, 2020, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced S. 4868, the bipartisan 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020, which is designed to expand access to supervised learning for students through the remainder of the COVID-19 emergency. The legislation would provide $1.2 billion in additional funding and greater flexibility for the Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC program to make it easier for parents to work and help children continue their learning in an academically supportive environment, especially when schools are operating virtually and not offering class in-person.

The bipartisan Senate 21^st CCLC Coronavirus Relief Act would:

• Allow 21^st CCLC sub-grantees to provide services to students during the school day if the students are not getting in-person instruction in school;
• Allow sub-grantees to provide those services virtually or in person;
• Require sub-grantees to follow Covid-19-related health mandates; 
• Require sub-grantees to submit an addendum of their application to their State Education Agency outlining how they’re going to provide services during the school day and comply with the health mandates;
• Authorizes and appropriates $1.2 billion to help the subgrantees provide additional hours of service, hire more staff to maintain social distancing, and pay for cleaning, sanitization, and PPE supplies; and 
• Allows the funding and flexibility to be available through at least June 2022, or the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency, whichever comes second.

If this legislation becomes law, more young people and parents will have access to crucial learning supports during virtual and staggered schooling. Successful 21^st CCLC afterschool programs, which serve many families with access to fewer resources, would have the funding and flexibility to do what many private programs and parent hubs/pods have already done – provide spaces that follow public health and safety guidelines and provide access to technology, caring adults, academic support, meals and snacks, and other essential tools for learners while parents return to work and schools continue to adjust their schedules due to COVID.

Introduction of the Senate version of the bill comes just six weeks after the House of Representatives unanimously passed its version of the legislation, HR 8162, led by Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) along with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), and Don Young (R-Alaska).  

As a result of the health challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts are providing academic instruction through remote or hybrid learning models for part or all of the 2020-2021 school year. Estimates suggest that this fall, nearly 24 million workers with children between the ages of 6 and 14 will have no at-home child care option. This bipartisan legislation allows flexibility in 21st CCLC grant funded programs to expand their in-person or virtual operations to allow programming during traditional school hours when school is occurring not physically in-person but rather virtually or in a hybrid setting. The legislation would leverage existing partnerships between schools, community-based organizations, nonprofits, local government, and other afterschool providers to create options for families and cultivate environments in which K-12 students can receive additional academic support; school-aged children can receive safe and affordable supervised learning during the day; and working parents are able to return to the workforce confident that their children are safe and supported.

The bill also complements the U. S. Department of Education’s waivers for state education agencies, which allow 21st CCLC flexibility. The bill and the waivers work together in providing the flexibility and funding needed to give parents and students the support they need during this challenging school year. The legislation, if not passed as a stand-alone measure, could be included as part of the next COVID relief bill, which Congress continues to negotiate with the Administration. The 21st CCLC flexibility and supplemental funds would help programs implement longer hours, reduce student/staff ratios, obtain alternate spaces as needed, and implement additional cleaning and safety measures. Programs and families recognize this funding as essential, as programs strive to meet students’ needs as parents return to work.

Use your voice and experience to amplify the need for additional afterschool program support including more space, time and staffing, the successes, and also the challenges around sanitation and safety, local funding shortages, and the uncertainties ahead. Your elected officials at all levels want to know how your students and families are doing, how the program is faring, and what they can do to ensure afterschool programs can support students this fall. Check out our action alert tool here for a template and be sure to add your own experiences!