Senate Bill for FY 23 Appropriations proposes $85 million increase for 21st CCLC

The Senate Appropriations Committee released a Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on July 28, 2022. The Fiscal Year 2023 proposed bill would increase overall spending from last year’s LHHS appropriations by 10 percent or $21 billion dollars. The bill proposes an increase of $85 million for the Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative (21st CCLC) – the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. President Biden had proposed a $21 million increase for 21st CCLC, and the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill proposing a $120 million increase in June. The Senate’s increase sits between the President and House proposals.

Given that Congress will soon leave for its August recess and campaign season and mid-term elections will follow, there isn’t expected to be additional action on FY 2023 spending bills until after the mid-term elections. Rumors are that talks about a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies and programs temporarily have already begun. Passage of an appropriations bill or continuing resolution needs to be in place by October 1, 2022, when FY 2023 begins.

Key funding provisions of the bill include the following:

• $85 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which supports before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs for almost 2 million students. The program would receive $1.375 billion for FY 2023.
• $1 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, for a total of $7.2 billion. This Department of Health and Human Services program supports school-age children with afterschool and summer programs, in addition to providing child care to infants and toddlers.
• $2.6 billion increase for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I grants to Local Education Agencies, for a total $20.137 billion. These Education funds can be used by school districts to support afterschool and summer learning.
• $1.345 billion for Title IV Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants. This is $10 million less than the House proposal, but more funding than the program received in FY 2022. These funds can be used for afterschool Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), physical activity and a host of other uses.
• $150 million for Full Service Community Schools; this funding supports comprehensive services and expands evidence-based models that meet the holistic needs of children, families, and communities, including afterschool and summer learning components.
• Continued support for a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Initiative to support SEL and “whole child” approaches to education. Within this amount, the bill provides:
  • $90 million, an increase of $5 million over the FY 2022 enacted level, for the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program, with a priority for teacher professional development and pathways into teaching that provide a strong foundation in child development and learning, including skills for implementing SEL strategies; and
  • $1 billion within School Safety National Activities for Mental Health Services for school based health professionals program.
• $1.507 billion for career and technical education (CTE), including a $60 million increase for CTE state grants and another $60 million increase for a new Career Connected High School initiative.
• $1.275 billion for TRIO programs and $400 million for GEAR UP.  These programs help prepare students for college.
• $95 million for Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS).
• $1.235 billion for Federal Work Study, which can help support college students working in afterschool and other community-based organizations while attending college.
• $1.225 billion for Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS): a $75 M increase above FY 22 enacted levels, including a $5 million increase for VISTA and $25 million increase for AmeriCorps State and National Grants.
•  $29 million increase for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program to $130 million.
• $2.959 billion in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state grants, an increase of $80 million.
• No funding for the National Youth Employment Program.
• $20 Million to continue Career Pathways for Youth Grants.

Congressionally Directed Funding, similar to the earmarks of the past, are also included beginning on page 346. Funding mentioned in the afterschool space includes $361,000 for a National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project for in and out-of-school youth development programming; $350,000 for Providence Afterschool Alliance for summer STEAM learning and enrichment programming; $758,000 for before and afterschool programs in a Washington State school district; and $750,000 for a theater company in New York State for out of school and summer programs. In addition to the full bill, there is also an explanatory statement and bill summary available for the Senate spending proposal.

Speaking out through this process is as important as ever! We know 25 million youth await access to affordable afterschool programs. The difference between the House’s $120 Million proposed increase the and Senate’s $85 Million increase represents about 35,000 additional students who would be served with the larger allocation.

Friends of afterschool can weigh in with their members of Congress about the importance of funding afterschool and summer learning programs.