On July 18, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Education (HEW) convened a hearing entitled “ESSA Implementation: Exploring State and Local Reform Efforts.” The hearing focused on what states have done so far to develop their consolidated state accountability plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and whether the federal government and the Department of Education (ED) need to do more or less to assist in their development and review.
A recurring theme of the hearing was the pending appropriations debate that would potentially shortchange a number of ESSA and education related programs. The hearing also included a robust conversation on supporting students through afterschool and summer learning programs, and Dr. Gail Pletnick, president of the State Superintendents Association (AASA), emphasized the point that afterschool programs are key investments in supporting student attendance and achievement and engaging students and parents in education.
Locally-driven solutions to education issues
Opening the hearing, Education Committee Chairwoman Foxx(R-N.C.) called ESSA a milestone for K-12 policy, as it establishes a proper balance of autonomy and accountability for states. She walked through the main changes of the law and noted that ESSA strips powers from the Secretary of Education to ensure there no longer is a top down approach to federal K-12 education policy.
“This law has the ability to empower state and local leaders to change K-12 education for the better, and that is why it is of utmost importance to this committee,” Foxx concluded.
Ranking Member Scott (D-Va.) spent his opening statement making clear that he believes ED has a role in reviewing and approving state plans according to the law and its requirements concerning equity. He went on to slam both the president’s budget proposal and the draft House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY 2018 Appropriations bill, both of which propose eliminating Title II funding for teacher and school leader professional development and undercut funding for Title I and Title IV Part B (21st CCLC) of ESSA.
“How effective can [ESSA] implementation be, without funding?” Scott asked the committee.
“We know that chronic absenteeism negatively affects student success, and that this has led some states to propose absenteeism as an additional accountability measure in their state ESSA plans,” Barletta said. “We also know there is evidence that quality afterschool and summer learning programs are cost-effective strategies in increasing student attendance at all grade levels. I’ve seen this first-hand through an afterschool organization in my district – the SHINE program.”
Barletta questioned Dr. Gail Pletnick, superintendent of Dysart Unified School District in Surprise, Arizona, about how state ESSA plans help leverage Title I and Title IV dollars to encourage student engagement through afterschool and summer learning opportunities. Pletnick said that her district utilizes Title I funds to support afterschool programs.
“With our underserved populations especially, having those afterschool opportunities serves many purposes, but certainly engages students in their learning,” Pletnick said. “We have opportunities to have coding, to have STEM – those really critical skills that students enjoy being a part of. What we have also seen through those programs is increased parent involvement because they are able to engage with their students in those activities. Those types of programs are having a positive impact academically.”
Written witness testimony and an archived webcast of the hearing can be accessed here.
The full House Appropriations Committee met for a marathon mark up of the FY2018 education-funding bill on July 19, starting at 9:30 a.m. and lasting late into the evening. The FY2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Act sets funding levels for all federal education, human services, and health and labor programs—including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, which provides federal funds leveraged by local school-community partnerships to provide quality afterschool and summer learning programs.
The Committee voted to approve the House LHHS FY2018 spending bill on a party line vote of 28 – 22. The bill includes a $191 million cut to 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool funding. The cut brings funding for local afterschool and summer learning programs below the current authorized level to the lowest level of federal afterschool funding since 2007 and means approximately 192,000 children could lose access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs next year. An updated table shows how the proposed cut to afterschool will be felt in all 50 states.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) offered an amendment to the spending bill that would restore 21st CCLC afterschool funding to the current level of $1.191 billion. The amendment lost by a vote of 29 to 21 along on party lines: all committee Democrats voted in favor and all Republicans voted against the measure.
Prior to voting on the amendment, however, members of both parties including Reps. DeLauro, House Afterschool Caucus co-chair Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) spoke in tremendous support of afterschool programs and Community Learning Centers. Chairman Cole affirmed that Community Learning Centers is an effective and valuable program and noted that if a spending deal is reached and more funds are available for the Labor HHS bill, he would work with Rep. DeLauro to restore—and even increase—the program to the 2017 level.
What's next?
The appropriations process is far from over, although the next steps remain unclear. The House LHHS FY2018 spending bill could now head to the House floor for a vote and be included with other bills in a “mini-bus” or “omnibus” bill later in the summer or fall. It is highly unlikely the bill would head to the floor as a stand-alone measure. There has been much discussion about the possibility of spending a deal that would be reached later on in the year that would increase funds available for non-defense discretionary programs like Community Learning Centers.
The Senate has yet to begin discussing their Labor HHS spending bill. Fiscal year 2017 expires on September 30 and Congress is supposed to have all its appropriations bills passed and sent to the president’s desk; however, in past years Congress has not been able to complete its work and instead passed a continuing resolution temporarily funding the government until final spending bills can be completed.
The overall House LHHS FY2018 spending bill reduced education spending by at least $2 billion ($4 billion if one counts recessions), rolling back a range of necessary supports to children and working families due to a spending allocation that was $5 billion less than FY2017. While the bill does not eliminate the Community Learning Centers program as proposed in the president’s FY2018 budget, the $191 million cut to federal afterschool and summer learning supports would be devastating to families and communities in all 50 states.
In addition to 21st Century Community Learning Centers, funding levels for a number of other programs that support afterschool were included in the bill:
Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies: $15.46 billion, level with FY2017 funding. Title I provides basic and flexible funding to low-income school districts to improve student outcomes. Schools are able to spend Title I funds on afterschool and summer learning programs.
Title II-A Funds for Teacher Professional Development: These funds are eliminated in the bill.
Title IV Full Service Community Schools: $10 million, level with FY2017. This funding through the Department of Education helps support community school development and expansion at the local level.
Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: $500 million is proposed for school districts established under ESSA to support activities that provide students with a well-rounded education, ensure safe and supportive learning environments, and use technology to improve instruction. Allowable uses for the grant include support for afterschool STEM. This level is significantly lower than the authorized level of $1.65 billion but represents a proposed increase to the FY2017 level of $400 million.
TRIO and GEAR UP: $1.01 billion and $350 million respectively. These programs help first-generation college students prepare for, enter, and complete college, and are increased by $60 million for TRIO and $10 million for GEAR UP.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $2.860 billion, an increase of $5 million above FY2017. The Afterschool Alliance supports a significant increase in CCDBG funding to help implement the CCDBG Reauthorization Act of 2014. In addition to supporting child care for children ages birth through five, the CCDBG funds afterschool programs for just under one million school age children.
Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program: Eliminates all $101 million for this evidence-based program based in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Corporation for National and Community Service: $1 billion, level with FY2017 and rejecting the proposed elimination of the program in the President’s budget. CNCS supports AmeriCorps and VISTA that are a key asset for hundreds of afterschool programs.
Take action: Send a message to your representatives
Since March, 70,000 parents and advocates have reached out to Congress in support of federal afterschool funding. As the appropriations process continues, it is imperative that senators and representatives hear from those in their states and districts about the value of federal afterschool funding in supporting local programs. Reach out to your members of Congress today in support of funding for afterschool and summer learning programs, and affirm that America's kids don't deserve a funding cut
As the nation celebrated National Summer Learning Day yesterday, an additional step in the FY2018 appropriations process continued. The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee took up their FY2018 education spending bill. The bill sets funding levels for all federal education, human services, and health and labor programs—including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, which provides federal funds leveraged by local school-community partnerships to provide quality afterschool and summer learning programs.
The House LHHS FY2018 spending bill cuts federal education spending by at least $2 billion ($4 billion if one counts recessions), rolling back necessary supports to children and working families due to a spending allocation that was $5 billion less than FY2017. An updated table shows how the proposed cut will be felt in all 50 states.
The bill passed the Subcommittee on a straight party line as expected. The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up the bill next week. The Senate Appropriations Committee likely will not tackle their own version of the bill until later this summer or early fall.
Proposal cuts afterschool by $191 million
With regard to key federal efforts that support afterschool and summer learning programs, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative was funded at $1 billion—a cut of $191 million below the current FY2017 level of $1.191 billion. The proposed level is below the level authorized in last year’s ESSA bill ($1.1 billion). If the House bill were to become law, approximately 191,000 children would lose access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs next year.
While the bill does not eliminate the Community Learning Centers program as proposed in the President’s FY2018 budget, the $191 million cut to federal afterschool and summer learning supports would be devastating to families and communities in all 50 states.
In addition to Community Learning Centers, funding levels for a number of other programs that support afterschool were included in the bill:
Title I Grants to Local Education Agencies: $15.46 billion, level with FY2017 funding. Title I provides basic and flexible funding to low-income school districts to improve student outcomes. Schools are able to spend Title I funds on afterschool and summer learning programs.
Title IV Full Service Community Schools: $10 million, level with FY2017. This funding through the Department of Education helps support community school development and expansion at the local level.
Title IV Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: $500 million is proposed for school districts established under ESSA to support activities that provide students with a well-rounded education, ensure safe and supportive learning environments, and use technology to improve instruction. Allowable uses for the grant include support for afterschool STEM. This level is significantly lower than the authorized level of $1.65 billion but represents a proposed increase to the FY2017 level of $400 million.
TRIO and GEAR UP: $1.01 billion and $350 million respectively. These programs help first-generation college students prepare for, enter, and complete college, and are increased by $60 million for TRIO and $10 million for GEAR UP.
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $2.860 billion, an increase of $5 million above FY2017. The Afterschool Alliance supports a significant increase in CCDBG funding to help implement the CCDBG Reauthorization Act of 2014. In addition to supporting child care for children ages birth through five, the CCDBG funds afterschool programs for just under one million school age children.
Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program: Eliminates all $101 million for this evidence-based program based in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Corporation for National and Community Service: $1 billion, level with FY2017. CNCS supports AmeriCorps and VISTA that are a key asset for hundreds of afterschool programs.
A big step in the wrong direction
According to America After 3PM data, about 10 million low-income students would participate in afterschool and summer learning programs if cost and access were not barriers to them and their families. Decreasing funding for Community Learning Centers and other supports for afterschool and summer learning could negatively impact more than 11,000 communities nationwide that rely on Community Learning Centers funding to keep young people safe, support working parents, and provide engaging learning experiences for children and teens.
Take action: Send a message to your representatives
While it is likely the bill that emerges from the markup on party lines will include these changes, this is just the first step in the appropriations process. The full House and Senate could take up their LHHS bills later this year, or a continuing resolution or omnibus-spending bill could emerge in the coming months.
Reach out to your members of Congress today in support of modest increases to funding for afterschool and summer learning programs, and affirm that America's kids don't deserve a funding cut.
On Thursday, June 15, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development convened a hearing titled, “Helping Americans Get Back to Work: Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).” Part of the conversation centered on the positive role of afterschool programs in helping develop student employability and life skills.
The hearing was held in conjunction with President Trump’s “Workforce Development Week” – an effort by the administration to highlight job training programs and apprenticeships. Despite the bipartisan praise of these programs, in the FY 2018 budget request, President Trump reduces the Department of Labor (DOL) budget by 21 percent, with significant cuts to job training and employment grants, JobCorps programs, and job training for seniors.
The budget calls for significant reductions in funding for key workforce programs under WIOA, which was reauthorized by Congress in 2014, and approximately $1 billion in cuts to Title I of WIOA – an almost 40 percent cut from current funding levels. Panelists and members of Congress were quick to point out the efficacy and return on investment of WIOA programs bridging the skills gap in the economy, helping different stakeholders coordinate services, and serving vulnerable populations as they enter and stay in the job market.
Subcommittee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) kicked off the hearing by speaking to the bipartisan nature of WIOA. He noted that prior to the passage of WIOA, the federal government had more than 47 separate but overlapping employment education programs across nine different federal agencies.
Louis Dubin’s testimony covered his role as chairman of the governor’s Workforce Development Board in Maryland and the board’s main goal of building partnerships between different sectors of the state – including private industry, education organizations, community and faith-based organizations, and state agencies – to ensure that all aspects of the workforce ecosystem are represented. In his view, the economic development discussion should center on aligning the talent pipeline with business needs, while states should engage middle- and high-school students in work study programs to introduce them to real-world experiences. Specifically, he noted Baltimore’s Living Classrooms Program and Pennsylvania’s SHINE afterschool program as exemplary programs that connect students with industries and earn them college credit.
As apprenticeship programs move beyond construction and expanding to high-growth sectors such as information technology, healthcare, and cybersecurity, afterschool programs are following suit. Dubin highlighted Digital Harbor, an afterschool program in Baltimore, Maryland that enrolls youth in advanced courses in fabrication, programming, and electronics.
During members’ time for questions, Rep. Barletta (R-Penn.) touted the SHINE afterschool program and noted its ability to connect students with career technical education (CTE) skills and programs at a much earlier age. He asked Dubin to comment on whether programs like this help reduce the stigma of CTE to attract more students and how workforce boards can use the WIOA framework to enhance these kinds of partnerships.
Dubin acknowledged that lack of funding for CTE programs has been an issue in Maryland, along with stigma in the education field: education professionals can be reluctant to guide students towards a “tracked” pathway. He suggested bringing superintendents to the table early on so that they can see the benefit of students working with afterschool programs and other types of apprenticeship programs to learn a variety of skills—not just technical skills.
Thank you to the thousands of friends of afterschool for the hard work this week in Washington and nationwide to send a clear message Congress that afterschool works!
More than 200 attendees were in Washington DC this week for the 16th annual Afterschool for All Challenge. Advocates from 45 states participated in 200 meetings with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill on June 7. While the congressional visits were happening, a team of afterschool STEM advocates met with officials from the Office of Management and the Budget (OMB), the Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Outside of Washington, D.C. friends of afterschool made hundreds of phone calls and sent thousands of emails to congressional offices. In one day, there were 3,700 meetings, calls and emails in support of federal afterschool funding.
We are still getting feedback from the meetings and calls, but so far three members of Congress have signed up as new Afterschool Caucus members (one Republican and two Democrats) and 12 members signed on as new co-sponsors of H.R. 2353 The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (11 Republicans and one Democrat). The feedback on 21st CCLC support has also been overwhelmingly positive!
On June 6, an inspiring Afterschool Showcase celebrated the power of afterschool with youth and staff from amazing afterschool programs from around the country. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) made brief speeches and the American Federation of Teacher’s president Randi Weingarten made a passionate appeal for afterschool.
Some of the most memorable moments came from the amazing youth and parents who described how afterschool works to support their success and help their families thrive. A number of incredible afterschool programs from around the country attended, demonstrating their STEM activities, music production, creative arts and dance, and many other afterschool highlights. Programs included:
ACE Academy from Takoma Park, Md. A culture-rich teaching and creative arts after school program for first through fifth grade students, ACE Academy addresses the needs of a growing population of African and immigrant families by focusing on writing, reading fluency, comprehension, and English language learning.
After-School All-Stars DC from Washington, D.C. The program provides low-income, at-risk youth a safe and healthy environment, inspiring them to be All-Stars both in school and life.
Alternatives, Inc. from Hampton, Va. Dedicated to inspiring young people to realize their inherent potential as valued members of the community, Alternatives focuses on increasing creativity, civic leadership, and youth empowerment through enrichment activities, training opportunities, and service-learning.
Caroline County Recreation & Parks from Denton, Md. Students participate in academic enrichment, homework support, and recreation, and benefit from partnerships with Maryland 4-H, the YMCA of the Chesapeake, Caroline County Council of Arts, the Caroline County Health Department, and the Caroline County Public Library.
Columbus State Community College’s ESL Afterschool Communities (ESLAsC) from Columbus, Ohio By creating a safe, caring, respectful environment where children are able to develop academic, social, and personal skills that will last a lifetime, the program provides a bridge between school and home for the families of refugee and immigrant children.
On the Road Collaborative from Harrisonburg, Va. This non-profit youth empowerment organization sets underserved middle school youth on the road to college and careers by connecting them to dynamic educational experiences and caring adult mentors during the out-of-school hours.
ourBRIDGE for KIDS from Charlotte, N.C. The program supports the refugee and immigrant communities in the Charlotte area by offering a one-of-a-kind enrichment program for newly arrived and first generation American children and advocating for the success, happiness, and fair treatment of their families as they acculturate to the United States.
Raider’s ARK (Academics Reinforcing Knowledge) Afterschool Program from Arcadia, Wis. While working to involve students, parents, and the broader community in the enhancement and acceleration of daytime learning in an afterschool setting, this program also connects students, parents, and the community with the principles of lifelong learning.
Techbridge Girls, Inc. from Washington, D.C. Beyond delivering girl-centered STEM after-school programs to seven local schools, Techbridge DC serves as a collaborator and alliance-builder with other STEM education supporters and a catalyst for broad initiatives that diversify the nation’s STEM workforce.
Communities In Schools of Pennsylvania This program’s mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life by establishing relationships with local businesses, social service agencies, health care providers, and parent and volunteer organizations to provide needed resources.
The event closed with Sen. Murkowski inviting all of the children at the event to join her on stage where she thanked them and all the gathered advocates for their passion
The action is not over! We invite you to participate in a tele-town hall on June 12 at 7 p.m. ET, focusing on the implications of the president’s FY18 budget for health and education. Hosted by the American Federation of Teachers in partnership with the Coalition for Community Schools and the Afterschool Alliance, national partners and local leaders will share the great results of investments in child development programs and what we stand to lose.
To participate, please RSVP through this link. You will receive a call, close to 7 p.m. ET on June 12 to connect you to the tele-town hall.
On June 6, hours before afterschool advocates took to the Hill to meet with 200 members of Congress, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified in front of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) on the U.S. Department of Education (ED) Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposal. Senators of both parties who questioned the proposed elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative brought up the topic of federal afterschool funding.
Just as the House hearing last month was highly partisan and politically charged, so was the Senate hearing. Democrats and DeVos clashed about the federal role in protecting students from discrimination, whether federal laws would apply to students who used vouchers to attend private schools, and about cuts to federal grant and loan programs.
Republicans were considerably friendlier to DeVos, but many expressed their support for programs that were on the chopping block, including Community Learning Centers, Perkins Career and Technical Education program, student grants for higher education and Impact Aid. Repeatedly, DeVos reiterated well-rehearsed lines such as “if schools are taking federal funds, they need to follow federal law” while refusing to elaborate. While the partisanship was palpable, DeVos remained measured and calm.
Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) all echoed support for Community Learning Centers and afterschool funding. Sen. Manchin cited Pam Shope and her two sons from West Virginia, who were in town for the Afterschool for All Challenge and attended the hearing. Sen. Shaheen talked about a letter she had received from a student in New Hampshire in support of Community Learning Centers. Her exchange with Sec. DeVos is captured in a video that has had more than 3,200 views so far this week.
The primary response from the Secretary to all the support for Community Learning Centers was to say the program lacked evidence that is was effective; however, senators replied that the evidence base is there.
Specific member remarks on afterschool are outlined below:
Chairman Blunt pointed out that outright cuts to programs such as the Community Learning Centers will be “all but impossible” to cut in his committee.
Sen. Shaheen cited a student who wrote to her about his afterschool program and what a difference it has made to him and his community. She quoted the student, who described his childhood as one of poverty, lack of connection to his birth parents, and feelings of being an outcast. He described the impact the afterschool program had on his life. Shaheen noted that DeVos, in her opening statement, said that she seeks to support programs that have meaningful results. Shaheen said that Community Learning Centers do provide meaningful results and the proposed budget would take them away. “What would you say” to that student, she asked.
DeVos responded that ESSA provides flexibility for situations such as the scenario Shaheen described. Shaheen interrupted to say that a state like New Hampshire doesn’t have the flexibility to support afterschool programs if the federal funds are stripped.
Sen. Schatz reiterated Shaheen’s assertion that flexibility does not exist without funding and that claiming that Community Learning Centers, Title II, and CTE will enjoy new flexibility is their budgets are cut is false. Schatz also observed that localities don’t want “flexibility”; they want resources.
DeVos replied that she has heard from state and local leaders that they do want flexibility.
Sen. Capito voiced her concern about cuts to Community Learning Centers, which she said are valuable for myriad reasons in West Virginia. She asked what the alternative is for kids in her state, where they are $500 million “in the hole.”
DeVos reiterated that the decisions in the budget proposal were based in large part on the reported results of the program, and that the results from Community Learning Centers were not favorable and were outside the core mission of ED. According to a wealth of widely-available research, Community Learning Centers programs can lay claim to powerful positive academic, physical, and social benefits for their students.
Sen. Manchin welcomed Pam Shope and her sons from a West Virginia 21st Century Community Learning site.
Sen. Baldwin asked DeVos to speak to the cut to the Perkins Career and Technical Education program, as well as eliminations of the Community Learning Centers and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), all of which she noted can be used to support STEM education. She noted that the proposal includes an unauthorized $20 million grant program for STEM and asked how that is sufficient to support all the cuts in the budget totaling approximately $1.5 billion in formula funding for every state.
DeVos said that reauthorizing HEA, including CTE, needs to be part of the conversation. She said the grant program is meant to foster creativity and innovation.
Both bodies of Congress have now heard testimony from DeVos on the administration’s budget. They are expected to embark on drafting their respective education appropriations bills and ultimately come up with a plan to fund the government before September 30, 2017.
Last week the House of Representatives passed two pieces of juvenile justice-related legislation that will have a positive impact on young people in and out of afterschool programs.
On Monday evening, Congressmen Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) and Adam Schiff’s (D-Calif.) bipartisan Child Protection Improvements Act of 2017 (CPIA), H.R. 695, passed the House of Representatives. CPIA ensures youth-serving organizations in every state can access FBI background checks for prospective staff and volunteers. On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 1809, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and enhance the focus on prevention.
About the Child Protection Improvements Act
CPIA passed by unanimous voice vote along with several other bills that further protect children and the most vulnerable members of society. Specifically, theChild Protection Improvements Act would:
Ensure organizations (including afterschool programs) that serve children, the disabled, and the elderly all across the country have access to FBI fingerprint searches in a timely and affordable manner
Protect privacy rights by ensuring that the specifics of a criminal record are never disclosed without explicit consent by the volunteer or employee and providing an opportunity for individuals to correct errors in their records
Make FBI fingerprint background checks available for programs that wish to use them, without requiring that organizations perform those checks
The bill does not authorize any new spending. The program will be supported by the fees assessed for background checks by the requesting nonprofit organizations.
The next day, the bipartisan Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017 sponsored by Rep. Jason Lewis (R-Minn.) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) passed by a voice vote. As noted in an earlier post on the Afterschool Snack, the bill includes reforms to:
Phase out use of the valid court order exception and stop the incarceration of children in need of services
Provide states and local leaders flexibility to deliver services that meet the specific needs of young people in their own communities
Prioritize evidence-based strategies with proven track records and long-term solutions for addressing juvenile delinquency – including support for afterschool programs
Improve accountability and oversight at all levels of the juvenile justice system
Yesterday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on the Trump administration’s newly released FY2018 full education budget proposal. While the hearing mainly focused on school choice, vouchers, and state flexibility, several members of Congress spoke out against the proposed elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) afterschool initiative.
Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) opened the hearing, followed by opening statements by Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.).
Rep. DeLauro ran through a list of programs that are on the chopping block, including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which “help keep two million kids safe after school.” Observing that “education is the great equalizer in our country,” DeLauro highlighted the necessity of quality education resources for the most vulnerable.
“We have an achievement gap in this country—and it is worse in high-poverty areas, both urban and rural. Yet these are the very areas we would starve with this budget,” DeLauro said.
Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) noted that afterschool programs are one of her favorite education initiatives because even if you “can’t get behind” educational enrichment activities, these programs can guarantee working parents that their children are safe after the school day ends. She also pointed out the stark contrast between the president’s proposed FY2018 and the bipartisan omnibus package just passed earlier in May.
Secretary DeVos testified in support of the budget, followed by an extended question and answer period. Reps. DeLauro, Lowey and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) all spoke out in support of the Community Learning Centers federal afterschool and summer learning program.
“[This] morally bankrupt budget steals health care from children and food assistance from hungry families in order to pad the pockets of billionaires and defense contractors,” Lee said. “If their budget is enacted, afterschool programs will close. Seniors will be forced to forgo medical care. Parents will have to choose between paying the rent and putting food on the table.”
While Secretary DeVos did not directly address the proposed cut to afterschool, she did speak to the need for creativity in education, stating, “ I want to unleash a new era of creativity and ingenuity in the education space. My hope is that—working in concert with each of you—we can make education in America the envy of the rest of the world.”
The subcommittee is expected to consider the FY2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education spending bill later this summer. While the president’s budget proposal eliminates afterschool funding, the subcommittee will ultimately determine the funding level for Community Learning Centers and all other education and human services programs. Earlier this spring, more than 80 members of Congress from all across party lines submitted a letter to the subcommittee calling for full funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Friends of afterschool programs can reach out to members of Congress now, sending a clear message: Americans support afterschool and summer learning programs! Add your voice and take action now, and join us on June 7 for a national call-in day to send a clear message of support for afterschool funding for 2018 and for years to come.
