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JUL

POLICY

What is Finland Really Doing Right?

By Jodi Grant

This post was co-written by our Excutive Director Jodi Grant and STEM Policy Director Anita Krishnamurthi.

Last month we were delighted to be invited to attend a breakfast at the Finnish Embassy featuring Dr. Pali Sahlberg, the director of the Center for International Mobility and Cooperation in Helsinki; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; and Roberto Rodriguez, special assistant to the president on education. Washington Post’s Valerie Strauss moderated the panel.

Finland has been receiving a flurry of attention from education stakeholders and reformers for consistently standing out as one of the strongest school systems in the world. We were eager to hear what the Finns thought was the key to their success.

Dr. Sahlberg began by saying that Finland never set out to be the best, they just wanted to improve and do better by their children. This benchmark comes from a philosophically different place than the international competition that drives most of our debate on this issue. He proceeded to describe the other social issues Finland has worked on to ensure children and youth have a fair shot: their child poverty rate is 4 percent, compared to 22 percent in the United States; they are ranked first in child health and well-being while the United States is ranked 29^th; and, their income inequality is also much lower. He also stressed that equity played a major role in their re-think—they determined that the notion of private schools where people can opt out of the system and private funding of education is not compatible with an equitable system. Consequently, there are no privately funded schools in Finland. Finland also boasts an incredibly selective teacher recruitment and training process. Only 5 percent of applicants are selected for a master’s program in education, which is required to become a teacher.

As the U.S. debates how long our school days should be, Finland offers a sobering example of why that cannot be the only solution. Children in Finland do not start school until they are 7 because the Finns believe that learning to play is extremely important—it teaches children how to get along with each other, to pay attention and focus, and to be imaginative—all qualities they think are essential to child and youth development. The country has one of the shortest school days around, teachers give minimal homework and testing is rare. They strongly believe that you test a small sample of schools to see how well a model is working and you ask the teachers to assess how the students are doing. One of the points Dr. Sahlberg made that really resonated was “Accountability is what is left when responsibility is taken away.”

The Finns strongly believe that children need to have opportunities outside of school and academics to develop into healthy, well-adjusted adults. Seventy percent of their students participate in activities run by NGOs that offer sports, music, art and other enrichment activities (and he expressed grave concern that this number was not higher!). They fully believe that these activities have merit on their own and should be separate from the school day—he actually mentioned the words “youth development” several times! Sadly, in the United States less than 20 percent of our children are in afterschool programs, and youth development is not valued as highly as it is in Finland. Afterschool programs are under constant pressure to demonstrate how they impact academic success of students.

Dr. Sahlberg spoke at length about the difference between Finland’s approach and that of the Global Education Reform Movement, which he abbreviates to “GERM.”

Global Education Reform Movement (GERM)	FINLAND
Competition	Collaboration
Standardization	Individualization
School Choice	Equity—all schools receive public funding and legislation forces them to collaborate. They don’t compete against one another
Test-Based Accountability	Trust-Based Professionalism

Dr. Sahlberg stressed that the U.S. and many other countries are “infected” by the GERM model while Finland has moved to eradicate the GERMs. He gave us five lessons that he thought the United States could learn from Finland:

More collaboration, less competition
More trust-based responsibility—less test-based accountability
More pedagogy, less technology
More equity, less privatization
More professionalism, less social experimentation

The description of the Department of Education’s signature reform, Race to the Top, that followed Dr. Sahlberg’s presentation strikingly illustrated how GERM-ridden we are, with a focus on high-stakes testing and steep penalties for schools and teachers whose students do not perform well on these tests. Afterschool programs are not immune, as they are often only considered valid if they can improve test scorers rather than being evaluated on a host of measures that show growth of the whole child. Sadly there was no real dialogue about the presentations and how we might incorporate the best practices of the holistic Finnish model into our education reform efforts.

We left the breakfast feeling both elated and depressed. Finland shows what is possible—they set out to improve a failing system and have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. There are clearly lessons from Finland that support all the great things our afterschool programs are providing to American students in the hours after school. There are clearly lessons learned from Finland that can help us demonstrate the value of the informal nature of the afterschool space. There are clearly multiple ways to measure our students’ success that do not rely on test scores. But there are also clearly some big barriers and challenges ahead and for now none of the real lessons from Finland are in policy maker’s textbooks.

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SEP

POLICY

Policy Updates September 2011

By Erik Peterson

September 30, 2011

Update: NCLB Waivers; House Appropriations; ESEA Reauthorization; and PEP Grants

Yet another busy week in Washington wraps up today. Among the afterschool policy related news this week are the following items:

The Department of Education provided some clarification on their proposed NCLB Optional Flexibility waiver relating to 21st CCLCs at an Education Stakeholder meeting held Sept. 29th at the Department's Headquarters. Responding to a question, Assistant Secretary Carmel Martin stated that the current 11,000 21st CCLC grantees would not be impacted by the changes proposed in the waiver package. For states seeking the option on 21^st CCLC and who are granted a waiver – the waiver change would impact state 21^st CCLC competitions held after the waiver was granted, most likely affecting the 2012-2013 school year at the earliest. More detail on this will be in the FAQs which will be posted to the Department's website in the next few days.
The House Appropriations Committee released a draft fiscal year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) funding bill yesterday afternoon. The bill proposes to fund 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) at the FY2011 level of $1.15 billion. The Child Care Development Block Grant is also funded at the same level as in FY2011, $2.22 billion. Title I is funded at $15.5 billion, which is $1 billion above last year’s level. Safe Schools and Citizenship Education is funded at $65 million. Promise Neighborhoods, Race to the Top and Invest in Innovation are all zeroed out. According to the spending bill, the Corporation for National and Community Service, which operates the Americorp program, is funded at $280 million, "which will support the National Senior Volunteer Programs within CNCS, and provides funding for the orderly elimination of other programs." The House Appropriations Committee leadership has announced no plans to mark-up the spending bill in Subcommittee or full Committee, but plans to use the bill in negotiations with the Senate on an FY2012 Omnibus spending bill.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has scheduled a mark-up of the Chairman's yet to be introduced ESEA reauthorization bill for October 18, 2011. The ESEA bill is expected to include language reauthorizing the 21st CCLC initiative.
Yesterday the Department of Education awarded 76 grants totaling more than $35 million to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations that plan to implement comprehensive, integrated physical activity and nutrition programs for their students through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). Funding is intended to assist these entities with initiating, expanding, or enhancing physical education and nutrition education programs, including afterschool programs, for students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

September 27, 2011

NCLB Waivers May Affect Afterschool

On Sept. 23, 2011, Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant was on hand at the White House for the President's announcement of a waiver package intended to provide relief to states from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements. The proposed waivers have the potential for a significant impact on federal afterschool program funding. In general, the package allows state education agencies (SEAs) to waive the cornerstone requirements of NCLB, including the 2014 deadline that all students be proficient in math and language arts, and gives states the latitude to set their own student achievement goals and determine their own interventions for low performing schools. It is important to note that the waiver package is meant only as a placeholder providing temporary relief to state and local education agencies and would be replaced by an ESEA reathourization law, once Congress passes such legislation.

Applying for the flexibility waivers will be completely voluntary and would apply to 10 ESEA requirements. Three provisions of the waiver package directly impact afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs:

21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC): The provision that is most likely to impact afterschool is the optional flexibility for 21^st CCLC. SEAs need to explicitly request this flexibility in addition to the other elements of the waiver package. The 21^st CCLC flexibility allows 21^st CCLC funds (Title IV, Part B of NCLB) to be used to add time to the school day without providing guidance on how such time would be used.
Supplemental Education Services (SES): States that are successfully granted an NCLB waiver would no longer require local education agencies to set aside 20 percent of Title I funds for SES in cases where schools are failing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Instead, those Title I funds could be used for other approved purposes, including comprehensive, quality afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs. This provision will give local communities more flexibility in using their Title I funds.
Transferability: Under the waiver package, states that are awarded an NCLB waiver will be allowed to transfer their state allotment of 21^st CCLC funds designated for state activities to other, non-21^st CCLC purposes. This would not directly affect the 21^st CCLC funds that are granted to local community-based organizations and local education agencies for afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs. However, it could impact the training and technical assistance the SEAs offer to 21^st CCLC grantees.

Each of the waiver provisions, with the exception of the optional 21^st CCLC provision, is a result of public letters submitted by SEAs requesting relief from NCLB legislative burdens. Given the fact that the waivers were intended to provide relief from legislative burdens and no states complained of burdens related to 21^st CCLC, it was surprising for the Department of Education to include the optional waiver. The Optional Flexibility waiver language is as follows:

Flexibility in the Use of Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program Funds: An SEA would have flexibility under ESEA sections 4201(b)(1)(A) and 4204(b)(2)(A) to permit community learning centers that receive funds under the 21^st CCLC program to use those funds to support expanded learning time during the school day in addition to activities during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session (i.e., before and after school or during summer recess).

Of particular concern is the lack of a definition for "expanded learning time" as referenced in the optional 21^st CCLC waiver language. The Afterschool Alliance, in a letter sent this week to the Department of Education, is seeking clarification on the definition and feels strongly that any changes made to the 21^st CCLC initiative should reflect the following concerns:

Strong partnerships between schools and community-based/faith-based organizations should be required in the implementation of expanded learning time. In order to ensure that expanded learning time programs are high quality, creative and maximize the potential of each local community, strong partnerships that emphasize collaboration, communication and alignment between schools and community-based/faith-based organizations should be at the core of all 21^st CCLC grants. Community organizations, faith-based organizations and school districts should all be permitted to be the lead applicants for all 21^st CCLC grants.
21^st CCLC should be used to enhance and complement—but not replicate—learning during the school day. Quality afterschool programs are at the forefront of innovation and reform when it comes to engaging children in their own learning. Many children who are prone to drop out of school cite boredom and lack of relevance as the reason they leave school. Quality expanded learning time opportunities supported by 21^st CCLC should provide children and youth with hands-on, student-centered learning that motivates and inspires them, whether that occurs during the expanded school day or in before school, afterschool and summer settings. These meaningful experiences, involving science, math, physical activity, music, arts and opportunities for service, complement but do not replicate the traditional school day.
Local communities should be the decision makers regarding how to best use 21^st CCLC funds. Neither the U.S. Department of Education nor the SEAs shall give priority to any model, be it afterschool, before-school, summer learning or expanded learning time. Furthermore, local communities should have the flexibility in deciding how to implement expanded learning time and whether it is optional or mandatory for all students.

We will post any clarifications from the department as we receive them. These challenges also point to the importance of Lights On Afterschool—less than one month away. Plan to host an event in your community and reach out to local, state, and federal policy makers as well as local media emphasizing the value of afterschool. To register and learn more visit www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm

September 23, 2011

FY2012 Appropriations Update: An Afterschool Perspective

Since Congress came back from its summer vacation after Labor Day, the Senate quickly began to take action on spending bills for FY2012. The late start, however, also makes it necessary to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government running when the FY2011 ends on Sept. 30. Since Congress will be in recess next week, the debate on the CR began this Wednesday when the House of Representatives was unable to pass the legislation. Forty-two Tea Party Republicans turned their backs on Speaker John Boehner and refused to vote for the bill, protesting what they considered to be overly-generous spending levels. In an unusual show of unity, all but six Democrats also opposed the legislation because of an unprecedented inclusion of offsets for critical emergency disaster relief funding. A revised CR was passed on Thursday after the Republican leadership added more disaster relief spending offsets to the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) insisted the bill was dead on arrival in the Senate because of insufficient emergency funding and the House insistence on spending offsets. The Senate officially voted the bill down on Friday. Once again, a government shutdown is threatened and a pending recess will likely be postponed. No funding cuts to education programs, including 21^st CCLC, seem likely in the CR.

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY2012 spending bill this past Tuesday with the full Appropriations Committee markup held on Thursday. The bill includes a program funding level of $165.4 billion for FY2012; $308 million below the FY2011 level of $165.3 billion. The measure includes a number of funding streams that provide important support to afterschool programs, including the 21^st CCLC initiative. Despite an overall cut to spending in the FY2012 education spending bill, 21^st CCLC initiative funding was maintained at the FY2011 level of approximately $1.15 billion. Report language included with the spending bill would allow 21^st CCLC funds to be used to expand the school day IF community based organizations are part of the expanded learning time (ELT) initiative and the content of the extra time complements but—does not replicate—the school day. Funding priority language was not included, as the intention is to let each state and local education agency decide how best to use the funds. This language is consistent with the Afterschool Alliance principles for 21^st CCLC in ensuring ELT is grounded in the successful, evidence-based model of quality afterschool programs which include strong school-community partnerships and hands-on, experiential learning.

Other afterschool, before-school and summer learning funding streams fared as follows:

Title I (ED) The bill includes nearly $14.5 billion, the same amount as the FY2011 level
Physical Education Program (ED) $78.8 million
Promise Neighborhoods (ED) $60 million; double the FY2011 amount of $30 million
Youth Violence Prevention (CDC) Eliminates all $19.7 million
Child Care Development Fund (HHS) $2.2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (level from FY2011); including $283.6 million specified for child care quality improvement activities
Community Services Block Grant (HHS) $678.6 million, the same as the FY2011 funding level
AmeriCorps (CNCS) The bill includes $1.1 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, an increase of $17 million.

The LHHS bill was praised by Democrats and uniformly rejected by Republican subcommittee members. Republicans also objected to funding for health care also contained in the bill. Disagreements hinted at on Tuesday led to heated debates when the full Committee met on Wednesday to adopt several spending bills, including LHHS. The bill was ultimately approved on a strictly party line vote.

The Commerce, Science, Justice spending bill, marked up last week, also included funding streams that benefit afterschool programs:

National Science Foundation (NSF) $7 million for informal science education
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DOJ) $251 million
Mentoring (DOJ) $55 million

Floor action on individual appropriations bills will not take place. Instead, subcommittee conferences will begin shortly to assure passage of a FY2012 budget before November 18, when the House CR is set to expire—assuming, of course, that Congress is able to negotiate a compromise bill before the end of the month.

Consequently, final FY2012 spending levels still appear far off in the future, meaning there is still time to contact your Member of Congress and emphasize the need to support afterschool funding. Send an email to Congress here.

September 16, 2011

New ESEA Reauthorization Bill in Senate Would Consolidate and Block Grant Programs, Including 21^st CCLC

Yesterday a group of Senate Republicans serving on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee introduced a package of four bills that provide one perspective on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander (TN), Richard Burr (NC), Johnny Isakson (GA) and Mark Kirk (IL) introduced the series of bills that would:

· Make changes to Title I

· Retool the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) "highly qualified teacher" provision

· Bolster charter schools

· Consolidate 59 federal education programs into two flexible funding streams provided to states as block grants: the “Safe and Healthy Students Block Grant” and the “Fund for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning”

Both of the proposed block grants include provisions that would fund out-of-school-time programming. Under the two foundational grants, an eligible use of funds would be “before and after school programs and activities, including during summer recess periods, and programs to extend the school day, week, or school-year calendar.”

Of particular concern to the afterschool community is the Empowering Local Educational Decision Making Act of 2011, which would “consolidate and streamline almost 60 programs within the existing No Child Left Behind law to allow state and local leaders to meet student needs in their states and districts.” The bill would consolidate 25 programs into the flexible, formula-driven Safe and Healthy Students Block Grant to fund locally-determined needs and initiatives for improving students’ safety, health and well-being during and after the school day by:

· Increasing the capacity of local school districts, schools and communities to create safe, healthy, supportive and drug-free environments

· Carrying out programs designed to improve school safety and promote students’ physical and mental health and well-being, healthy eating and nutrition, and physical fitness

· Preventing and reducing substance abuse, school violence and bullying

· Strengthening parent and community engagement to ensure a healthy, safe and supportive school environment

The bill presents a very different vision from other ESEA proposals in the Senate, including the Afterschool for America’s Children Act, in determining a future for the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) initiative and federal support for afterschool and summer learning programs. Of central concern is the impact of the proposed flexible block grants on the 8 million students currently benefitting from quality afterschool programming and the potential loss of infrastructure and leveraged funds if the existing 21^st CCLC program were to be replaced.

According to Education Week, Sen. Alexander insisted that the bills did not mean that the senators would not continue to work with HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-WY) on their comprehensive, bipartisan effort to reauthorize ESEA.

September 13, 2011

More Details on the American Jobs Act Proposal

This past Monday, September 12, 2011, the President formally submitted the American Jobs Act to Congress. Ed Week is reporting that, in addition to funds that would support afterschool staff, school construction funds included in the proposal could also be used to 'fix afterschool facilities.' See below:

The administration has now spelled out further details on how the school construction funding would flow. Forty percent of it, or $10 billion, would go to the nation's largest hundred school districts, based on need. The remaining $15 billion would go to states. The states could hold competitions to give out half of that funding, with priority going to rural districts. The rest would go to districts through a formula.

The direct federal grants to the nation's largest school districts would range from $28.2 million each for the Corpus Christie School District, in Wisconsin, and the Marion County, Fla., school system to $1.63 billion for New York City public schools.

The money couldn't be used for new school construction. But it could be used for a host of other things, including: emergency repair and renovation, energy efficiency upgrades, and asbestos removal. Schools could build new science and computer labs and revamp infrastructure to better support new technology. They could also use the funds to fix after-school facilities and make modifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

September 9, 2011

President’s ‘American Jobs Act’ Proposal Includes Support for Afterschool Programs

Last night the President spoke before a joint session of Congress in a televised speech that addressed the high level of unemployment nationwide. His legislative proposal, the American Jobs Act, would invest $447 billion in tax cuts for employers and employees, spending on schools and roads, aid to states to keep teachers in jobs, and assistance for the unemployed. A fact sheet detailing the plan’s effort to put teachers back to work includes provisions that recognize the unique role afterschool programs play in providing meaningful employment opportunities, helping working families, enhancing learning for children and keeping young people safe.

The President’s plan tackles state and local budget cuts that are estimated to result in 280,000 lost education jobs. According to the Administration’s fact sheets on the proposal, the American Jobs Act would invest $30 billion to support state and local efforts to retain, rehire, and hire early childhood, elementary, and secondary educators, including teachers, guidance counselors, afterschool educators and personnel, tutors, literacy and math coaches and more. According to the fact sheets, “these efforts will help ensure that schools are able to keep teachers in the classroom, preserve or extend the regular school day and school year, and also support important after-school activities.”

Afterschool programs are an essential resource—they keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and support working families—and they provide much-needed jobs, giving opportunities and creating pathways out of poverty for many disadvantaged and minority populations that are traditionally underemployed. In the U.S. today, afterschool programs serve 8.4 million children, providing jobs for an estimated 650,000 adults. There is demand for afterschool programs to serve another 18.5 million children nationally—a potential for individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds and experience, from young adults to baby boomers.

Furthermore, the President’s plan supports summer and year-round jobs for youth by providing states with the means to offer summer job programs for low-income youth in 2012, and year-round employment for economically disadvantaged young adults. Many afterschool programs for older youth have been able to train and employ young people to work with elementary-age students – serving as role models while providing academic help as well. Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant recently commented on the Presdient's plan on the Afterschool Snack blog.

The American Jobs Act is expected to be introduced in Congress next week.

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SEP

FUNDING

Race to the Top Winner Delaware Utilizing Funds to Support Afterschool and Summer Learning

By Diana Delfin

It seems the role of afterschool programs is seen as an effective way to utilize Race to the Top (RTT) funding and meet state reform goals. See a comprehensive list of implementation plans from each of Delaware's school districts. Delaware is directing some of their RTT funding to support the creation and expansion of local afterschool and summer programming. In fact, according to their plans posted online, each one of Delaware’s school districts are reinforcing Delaware’s requirement for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support increasing learning time with enriching activities. Here are some of the initiatives and innovations school districts in Delaware plan to implement RTT funds:

Appoquinimink ($65,000; 2011-2012) has proposed dual enrollment options for high school students through SpringBoard, a new program aimed to increase participation in AP and honors courses. The SpringBoard program also includes field trips to colleges in Delaware and a tour of an out of state regional college.

Brandywine ($1,609,582; 2011-2012) has proposed to expand summer AP courses and a Summer Bridge Program for all students. By providing additional support through acceleration and remediation strategies for students, the Brandywine school district hopes to motivate and prepare students for long-term success.

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JUL

STEM

K-12 STEM Education Policy Conference

By Ramya Sankar

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), along with the STEM Education Coalition and other national groups hosted the two-day K-12 STEM Education Policy Conference last week in Washington, D.C. The conference consisted of three panels, each offering insight into current STEM education policy from a different perspective: the Administration, Congress and external stakeholders.

The first panel was moderated by Tom Guetling of Delta Education and featured Michael Lach, Special Assistant for STEM in the US Department of Education, and Steve Robinson, Special Assistant in the White House Domestic Policy Council. The recurring theme of the discussion was that the Department of Education deals with the entire education system, particularly focusing on:

1)      Capacity building
2)      Motivation and inspiration
3)      Making sure the educational system is connected to other institutions (labs, businesses, universities, etc.)

Robinson reiterated the importance of STEM education and how President Obama and the Administration has been promoting the importance of getting youth excited about math and science. Policy at the federal level has been manifested as priorities in competitions for grant money. This includes the STEM priority in the Race to the Top funds and the Investing in Innovation grants. After brief remarks from both panelists, the audience got a chance to ask questions. Most questions revolved around professional development and identifying effective teachers. The panelists deflected many of these questions, saying that the federal government should not be driving these issues and it would be better for state and local authorities to determine solutions. In response to a question about how to include out-of-school-time partners such as afterschool programs in solutions to improve STEM education, they stated that the issue of strong and meaningful impact assessments are a major stumbling block for the informal science education field.

The second panel consisted of three Congressional staffers: Bess Caughram, Minority Staff, Science and Technology Committee; Peter Zamora, Office of Sen. Bingaman; and Chris Gaston, Office of Rep. Rush Holt. The Congressional panelists suggested that the most compelling argument to build Congressional support for prioritizing STEM education policy is highlighting the need for a skilled workforce and how it connects to jobs in their hometowns. They remarked that issues of equity and morality around STEM education do not appear to resonate as much as framing the issue in economic terms. But they did advise the audience that anecdotes and personal stories carry a great deal of weight and should be part of the conversation with Members of Congress.

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MAY

POLICY

Policy Updates May 2011

By Erik Peterson

May 25, 2011

This Week in Congress: Budget, ESEA, RTT and more

The House of Representatives joins the Senate back in session this week after being out on recess last week. A variety of activities are on the schedule this week that could have an impact on afterschool programs:

Twenty-five Representatives sent a letter to the House Appropriations Labor, HHS, Education Subcommittee supporting an increase of $100 million for the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) initiative in the FY2012 budget.
The House Education and Workforce Committee marked up HR 1891, legislation that would eliminate 43 federal education programs and cut $413 million in current spending, including elimination of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP), several literacy programs and Safe and Drug Free School grants.
The Senate is expected to vote on—and defeat—the House-passed FY2012 budget resolution, estimated to result in a $175 million cut to 21^st CCLC. Votes are also expected soon on alternative budget proposals. Friends of afterschool are encouraged to weigh in on the budget votes.
The Department of Education announced a new Race to the Top (RTT) competition for FY2011, including $200 million for the 2010 runner ups, as well as a new $500 million Early Learning Competition.

May 13, 2011

Final FY2011 Funding Levels Confirmed

Thirty days after Congress passed the final FY2011 Continuing Resolution, we now know for certain that funding for the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) initiative was cut by $12.3 million for the current fiscal year. As noted on April 21, the Department of Education had 30 days from the enactment of the final FY2011 Continuing Resolution on April 15 to determine the funding levels for the programs under their jurisdiction, including the 21^st CCLC initiative. It is estimated the funding cut will result in 12,300 children no longer being able to participate in 21^st CCLC programs. The impact of this cut on each individual state varies as a result of changes to the annual Title I funding formula, resulting in a deeper cut for some states. State education agencies are charged with determining how their FY2011 funding allocations will be spent.

With FY2011 funding finally settled, the focus turns to FY2012 appropriations. Early next week over 350 friends of afterschool will attend the Afterschool For All Challenge and meet with Members of Congress and their staff in Washington to emphasize the need for continued federal support for afterschool programs. You can take action as well.

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APR

POLICY

Policy Updates April 2011

By Erik Peterson

April 29, 2011

Congressional Budget Battles Part 2: FY2012

Last week we talked through the FY2011 final continuing resolution (CR), which funds the government until the end of the fiscal year in October. A week later, we still do not know the final spending numbers for 21^st CCLC and a number of other programs that were not itemized in the bill. Because this is a CR and not an appropriations measure, the Department of Education has great latitude in exactly how much of this funding is spent, though the Congress anticipates that they will follow the guidance that has been provided. The Department must submit a report to the Congress by May 18 detailing these decisions.

There is a degree of uncertainty over the FY2012 budget as well, but it is worth a look as Congress prepares to return from a two recess this coming Monday.

The House majority gave a clear indication of their priorities for the FY2012 budget in mid-April when they passed a partisan budget plan (H.Con.Res.34) sponsored by Budget Committee Chair Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that would cut about $6 trillion in government spending over the next decade by reducing domestic discretionary spending to FY2008 levels and freezing funding at that level for five years. It also reduces corporate and individual tax rates and dramatically revamps both Medicaid and Medicare. The resolution passed the House by a strictly partisan vote of 235-193. All indications are that the House budget will have no support in the Democratically-controlled Senate, which is expected to release its own budget plan in May. The stark difference between the policy preferences of the Senate and the House, as it played out during FY2011 budget negotiations, suggests that both chambers will once again struggle to reach a compromise in a final FY2012 budget.

Because H.Con.Res.34 is a budget blueprint that does not carry the weight of an appropriations bill, few specific programs are mentioned in the resolution, however, Ryan’s budget plan would cut more than $13 billion, or 15 percent, below current levels for federal spending on education, training and social services. In response, staff for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS and Education Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) released some estimates regarding the impact the House-passed budget resolution would have on select education programs in FY2012, including 21^st CCLC. According to an email from his office:

21^st Century Community Learning Centers:

The U.S. House budget could force a reduction of $175 million from programs that currently provide before-school, afterschool, and summer learning opportunities for elementary and secondary education students and offer a safe and productive place for such students when parents are still at work. This reduction could result in the loss of these opportunities for more than 175,000 students across the United States.

Title I Grants:
Title I education funding could be cut by $2.1 billion nationally, meaning 7,500 schools serving 3.1 million disadvantaged students could lose funding, and approximately 30,000 teachers and aides could lose their jobs.

Special Education:

The U.S. House budget could result in a significant reduction of $1.7 billion in federal special education funding. This reduction could lead to the loss of 21,000 education staff serving such students.

As indicated above, the Senate is expected to reject this proposal; however momentum continues to mount for Congress and the Administration to take action to address the deficit. On April 13, just days before the House passed H.Con.Res.34, the President announced his framework for addressing the long-term budget deficit. The Obama plan would generate $4 trillion in budget savings over 12 years through a variety of means, including cutting non-security discretionary spending by $770 billion. This would affect all federal programs other than defense and entitlements, including education programs like 21^st CCLC.

The day he announced this budget framework, President Obama also announced the creation of a bipartisan task force led by Vice President Joe Biden to negotiate a long term budget deal. The commission, which is meeting on May 5, includes such Congressional appointees as Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Clyburn (D-S.C.), and Eric Cantor (R-Va.). There are several other bipartisan groups also devising budget plans, including the so-called “Gang of Six,” which includes Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). This week, the Progressive Caucus, a group of progressive Democrats led by Reps. Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (Minn.) produced a budget that would actually increase funding for domestic priorities, including education, healthcare, job training and social services.

Look for the FY2012 budget debate as well as debate over raising the debt ceiling to continue to dominate headlines through the month of May. Friends and supporters of afterschool programs can make their voices heard by attending the Afterschool for All Challenge on May 16-17 in Washington, D.C., and by contacting their Members of Congress using our revised action alert available on our website.

April 21, 2011

Making Sense of the Spending Battles in Congress, Part 1

It took seven continuing resolutions in as many months for Congress to reach an agreement on a spending bill for the current fiscal year, yet the funding levels for a number of federal programs are still not entirely known. How did we get here and what is in store for the future?

In a typical calendar year, the appropriations process more or less follows this path:

Winter: The President releases his proposed budget and House and Senate Budget Committees debate and eventually pass budget resolutions that serve as a “blueprint” for federal funding.

Spring and summer: House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees and full Committees pass thirteen individual spending bills that fund federal agencies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on October 1.

Last year that did not happen. The House and Senate never passed a budget resolution nor individual spending bills. An attempt was made last December to pass a comprehensive omnibus spending bill, but that too failed to occur. The result was a series of seven short-term continuing resolutions enacted from late September last year through earlier this month, several of which included spending reductions.

The FY2011 appropriations process concluded last week with both chambers of Congress passing a final continuing resolution which funds the federal government through September 30, 2011. The president signed the bill last Friday, reducing federal spending by $38.5 billion from FY2010 spending levels. The final FY2011 spending bill represents a compromise between the House majority, the Senate majority and the president as an attempt to find middle ground between large spending cuts proposed in the House and those proposed in the Senate.

In the context of what the president called a historic spending cut, federal funding for afterschool fared relatively well. Overall, the bill reduced federal spending on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education programs by $5.7 billion. Funding for all non-defense programs was reduced across the board by 0.2%. The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the only federal funding stream that exclusively supports before school, afterschool and summer learning programs, was not mentioned by name in the FY2011 spending bill. As a result, the Department of Education will have 30 days to inform Congress of the amount to be spent on this and a number of other Education programs that were also not detailed in the bill. There was reportedly an informal recommendation from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees that funding for the 21^st CCLC initiative be reduced by $10 million in addition to the 0.2% cut, resulting in a funding reduction of approximately $12.3 million. Confirmation of this reported cut has not been verified. In fact, on April 16, Michael Robbins, senior advisor for nonprofit partnerships at the Department of Education addressed attendees of the annual National Afterschool Association convention, stating that federal funding for afterschool programs was level-funded in the FY2011 spending bill. While this suggests the Department will not cut 21st CCLC funding, given the mixed signals, final confirmation of the FY2011 spending level for 21^st CCLC is anxiously awaited.

Some programs were mentioned by name in the FY2011 spending bill, therefore more is known about funding levels for these programs. The discretionary side of the Child Care Development Fund, another key funding source for afterschool programs as it includes funding for school-age childcare, will be funded at approximately $2.2227 billion, a $100 million increase over FY2010 levels.

Several other sources of afterschool funding were substantially reduced. Note that the following reductions are in addition to the 0.2% across-the-board spending cut:

GEAR UP (Education) reduced by $20 million - estimated
TRIO (Education) reduced by $25 million - estimated
Promise Neighborhoods increased by $20 million to $30 million
Americorps (Corporation for National and Community Service, CNCS) reduced by $23 million
Learn and Serve (CNCS) program eliminated
Community Development Block Grant (Housing and Urban Development) reduced by $43 million
Weed and Seed (Justice) program eliminated
Juvenile Justice (Justice) reduced by $148 million
YouthBuild (Labor) reduced by $23 million
Arts Education (National Endowment of the Arts) reduced by $13 million
NASA Education (NASA) reduced by $38 million
Education and Human Resources (National Science Foundation) reduced by $10 million

A summary of the bill from the Senate Appropriations Committee is available here.

A summary of bill from the House Appropriation Committee is available here.

Complete bill text of HR 1473 can be found here.

A broader explanation of cuts to the Department of Education budget as posted by Education Week can be found here.

A discussion of cuts to youth program funding from Youth Today can be found here.

Come back next week for part 2 of our look at the budget battles in Congress, when we will tackle the FY2012 budget and appropriations process.

April 15, 2011

FY2011 Spending Bill Passes House and Senate; FY2012 Budget Resolution Passes House

Over seven months after the start of the fiscal year, both the Senate and House passed the FY2011 spending bill in bipartisan votes on the afternoon of April 14th. The President is expected to sign the bill into law April 15th. An explanation of the impact of the legislation on federal afterschool funding can be read under the April 12th post below. Because the final FY2011 funding level for the 21st CCLC program was not specified in the spending bill language, the Department of Education will have thirty days to inform Congress of the amount to be spent on this and a number of other Education programs that were also not detailed in the bill.

UPDATE: On April 16th, Michael Robbins, Senior Advisor for Nonprofit Partnerships at the Department of Education addressed the annual conference of the National Afterschool Association. He stated that federal funding for afterschool programs was level-funded in the FY2011 spending bill, suggesting the Department will not cut 21st CCLC funding. More information on this is expected in the coming days.

The House of Representatives also passed an FY2012 budget resolution this afternoon. The resolution serves as a blueprint for federal spending. The Senate has indicated they will pass their own FY2012 budget resolution. The House and Senate adjourn today for a two week recess - providing an opportunity for afterschool providers to reach to Members of Congress and invite them to visit afterschool programs. Learn more here.

April 13, 2011

House to Vote on FY2012 Budget Plan this Week

With the FY2011 spending bill apparently in the final stages of becoming law later this week, the House has announced plans to vote on an FY2012 budget resolution this week. Earlier this month the House Budget Committee revealed its budget proposal for FY2012, which will begin in October. The budget proposal is the House majority’s guide for funding federal programs for FY2012. If agreed to by the House and the Senate, it would be used as a budget blueprint for next year—setting targets for overall spending, deficit reduction and revenue collection. Should it become law, the budget resolution would set the levels of funding for federal programs under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committees in both chambers of Congress.

The House budget resolution proposes large cuts in discretionary spending over several years. Overall, the proposed resolution cuts $6.2 trillion in government spending over the next ten years compared to the president’s FY2012 proposed budget. The resolution also eliminates hundreds of programs, continues the ban on earmarks and aims to bring non-security discretionary spending to below FY2008 levels—necessarily resulting in drastic cuts to afterschool funding as well as other categories of spending from health care to education and juvenile justice. The House Budget Committee passed the proposal 22-16 on April 6. The full House is expected to vote on the proposal by this Friday. Access the House budget proposal here.

Reach out to your Members of Congress about the FY2012 and FY2011 budget and spending bills this week to urge their continued support for afterschool programs.

April 12, 2011

Details of FY2011 Spending Bill Released

Early Tuesday morning the details of the final FY2011 spending bill were released. HR 1473, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, funds the federal government through September 30, 2011. The bill cuts $38.5 billion in spending compared to FY2010 levels, including a cut of $5.7 billion to Labor, Health and Human Services and Education agencies. Funding for all non-defense programs was reduced across the board by .2%. Both the House and Senate are expected to pass the bill later this week.

The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the only federal funding stream that exclusively supports before school, afterschool and summer learning programs, was not mentioned by name in the FY2011 spending bill. However, it is believed at this point that the House and Senate Appropriations Committee is recommending that funding for the program be reduced by $10 million in addition to the .2% cut, resulting in a funding reduction of approximately $12.3 million. Confirmation of this reported cut is pending as the Department of Education will make final determinations on spending levels for programs not mentioned by name in the bill.

A second key funding stream supporting afterschool programs, the discretionary side of the Child Care Development Block Grant which includes funding for school-age childcare, will be funded at approximately $2.2227 billion, a $100 million increase over FY2010 levels.

The cut to 21^st CCLC is painful and could result in more than 12,000 children losing their afterschool programs. However, we recognize that these are tough times and that our bipartisan allies in Congress held firm in protecting the program from deeper cuts. A special note of thanks goes to all Members of Congress who championed these programs, as well as the thousands of friends of afterschool programs who contacted their Members of Congress urging support for these critical initiatives that inspire learning, keep children safe and help working families.

Several other sources of afterschool funding were substantially reduced. Note that the following reductions are in addition to the .2% across-the-board spending cut:

GEAR UP (Education) reduced by $20 million - estimated

TRIO (Education) reduced by $25 million - estimated

Promise Neighborhoods increased by $20 million to $30 million

Americorps (CNCS) reduced by $23 million

Learn and Serve (CNCS) program eliminated

Community Development Block Grant Programs (HUD) reduced by $43 million

Weed and Seed (Justice) program eliminated

Juvenile Justice (Justice) reduced by $148 million

YouthBuild (Labor) reduced by $23 million

Arts Education (NEA) reduced by $13 million

NASA Education (NASA) reduced by $38 million

Education and Human Resources (NSF) reduced by $10 million

A table showing the impact of the $12.3 million cut to the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers initiative on each state can be found here.

A summary of the bill from the Senate Appropriations Committee is available here.

A summary of bill from the House Appropriation Committee is available here.

Complete bill text of HR 1473 can be found here.

A broader explanation of cuts to the Department of Education budget as posted by Education Week can be found here.

April 9, 2011

FY2011 Budget Deal Struck, Government Shutdown Averted

Friday night, in the eleventh hour, the House and Senate informally agreed on a FY2011 budget that includes $38.5 billion in additional spending cuts and averted a government shutdown through Friday, April 15. Both bodies of Congress passed a one week Continuing Resolution that includes $2 billion in spending reductions. President Obama signed the provision into law to keep the federal government running long enough for congressional leaders to put the finishing touches on the long-term budget compromise that will keep the federal government funded for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. Specifics of the budget deal are not known at this time and reports indicate that many program level funding reductions are still being negotiated prior to introduction of the FY2011 spending bill, expected to occur late Monday evening.

The one week Continuing Resolution passed Friday night mainly cuts Transportation and Housing programs including reducing funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Fund.

It is not yet known if, or by how much, a cut to the 21^st CCLC program will be included in the final funding measure, nor whether the spending bill includes cuts to the Child Care Development Fund, the Corporation for National Community Service, the National Science Foundation, or other sources of federal support for afterschool programs. In a blog post on April 9^th, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer provided a broad description of the budget deal, writing:

The two sides agreed to cut $13 billion from funding for programs at the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services as well as over $1 billion in a cut across non-defense agencies, forcing everyone to tighten their belt. There will be reductions to housing assistance programs and some health care programs along with $8 billion in cuts to our budget for State and Foreign Operations. These significant cuts to the State Department and foreign assistance will mean we will not meet some of the ambitious goals set for the nation in the President’s Budget…

In addition to these cuts, we were able to eliminate $30 million for a job training program that was narrowly targeted at certain student loan processors. We also looked to the Defense department for savings, and were able to identify $18 billion in cuts deemed unnecessary by the Pentagon. These types of cuts are what the American people expect out of their leaders in Washington.

We protected funding for critical programs that invest in science programs, our kids’ education, and critical health programs. We are maintaining current levels of Head Start enrollment, funding Race to the Top, including an early learning element, and have sufficient savings available to maintain the Pell Grant maximum award and the broad education reform agenda, including K-12 education. There is still robust investment to efficiently and effectively run Medicare and to implement the Affordable Care Act. Even though we will no longer double the funding of key research and development agencies, you will still see strong investments in National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Science Foundation and the Office of Science.

April 8, 2011

Talks Continue on FY2011 Spending, But Government Shutdown Looms

After multiple high level meetings this week, there appears to be no agreement between the House and Senate on an FY2011 spending bill just twelve hours before the April 8 midnight deadline when the sixth Continuing Resolution (CR) expires. Congressional Republican and Democratic leaders met twice on April 7 and at least once today to find a compromise between $33 billion and $40 billion in cuts for the remainder of FY2011. The House did pass a one week CR earlier this week however Senate leadership and the president have indicated that policy provisions relating to abortion would prevent them from agreeing to the CR. If either a CR or a long term FY2011 spending agreement is not reached today, a government shutdown would take place, including a furlough of over 4,000 Department of Education employees. Assuming the shutdown will be short-lived, there should not be a large impact on most 21^st CCLC programs as this year’s federal funds have already been distributed to states. Updates on the FY2011 will be posted as they become available.

April 5, 2012

House Budget Committee to Mark-up FY2012 Budget Resolution

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan released the House majority’s FY2012 budget resolution today with plans to mark up the bill in Committee this week. Details on specific program funding reductions are scarce however according to Budget Committee’s website the proposal does the following:

Cuts $6.2 trillion in government spending over the next decade compared to the president’s budget, and $5.8 trillion relative to the current policy baseline
Eliminates hundreds of programs, reflects the ban on earmarks and curbs corporate welfare
Brings non-security discretionary spending to below 2008 levels
Brings government spending to below 20 percent of the economy

Education, job training and employment spending set at $67 billion for FY2012 and represents a cut of $250 billion over ten years. Because education alone is not broken out it is difficult to make a comparison to FY2010 levels. As more details emerge they will be posted on Policy News.

April 4, 2012

FY2011 Appropriations Deadline Draws Close

Unless Congress reaches an agreement on an FY2011 spending bill or passes a seventh Continuing Resolution (CR) this week, the government faces a shutdown when the current CR expires this Friday, April 8. Media reports indicate that negotiations continue on a permanent funding bill through end of the 2011 fiscal year with House and Senate leadership meeting with the White House this week on a possible compromise that would cut $33 billion in federal spending. Program-level specifics of what those spending reductions would entail have yet to be released.

At the same time, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today introduced another temporary funding measure—CR number seven—to prevent a government shutdown for an additional week while cutting a total of $12 billion in discretionary spending. The measure also includes funding for the Department of Defense for the remainder of the current fiscal year. The $12 billion in cuts contained in this legislation include funding rescissions, reductions and program terminations. All of the proposed cuts were also included in HR1 and many were included in the president’s budget requests or the Senate’s alternative to HR 1. Among the reductions is a $119 million cut to the “Teaching American History” program funding. A full summary of the cuts in this seventh CR can be found here.

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Afterschool Part of Turnaround Schools in the News

By Ursula Helminski

It seems both the Administration and media are making an effort to highlight examples of struggling schools making gains. Several highlighted in recent weeks have afterschool initiatives as part of their core services. In March, President Obama visited Miami Central High School and TechBoston, and the New York Times magazine cover story April 10 featured a Bronx principal making progress at M.S. 223.

The three schools have varied afterschool strategies, from extende

d classroom time to enrichment and recreational activities. All use added time for tutoring.

Miami Central tapped School Improvement Grant dollars to implement a turnaround strategy; one component was “extended learning time by adding afterschool instruction in reading and math.” (Source: White House backgrounder) That funding was awarded in 2009; the state had previously approved and paid for the extended time in 2006.

TechBoston, which receives a significant amount of private funds from tech companies and the Gates Foundation, provides one hour, from 3.15 to 4:15 p.m., for “sports, clubs, one-on-one learning time with faculty, and extra academic support.” (Source: White House backgrounder )

In the Bronx, Principal Gonzalez uses afterschool enrichment as a carrot to keep his kids engaged. Students at M.S. 223 must complete tutoring before they are able to take part in enrichment activities. Read the article, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/magazine/mag-10School-t.html

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Policy Updates February 2011

By Erik Peterson

February 28, 2011

Two Week Continuing Resolution Proposed, Includes $4 Billion in Cuts

Late last Friday the House Appropriations Committee released a short term Continuing Resolution (CR) to provide funds to keep the government operating over the next two weeks until a compromise can be reached on a year-long funding bill. If passed this week, the CR, which includes $4 billion in spending reductions, will prevent a government-wide shut down that would occur on March 4th – if no agreement between the House, Senate and White House is reached on a longer-term funding bill. The CR contains funding to allow all government agencies and programs to continue operating at the current level of spending for the next two weeks, until March 18, 2011, except for several programs that will be terminated or cut. Among the proposed cuts in the two week CR is $1 million from the Child Care Development Block Grant's Child Care Aware toll-free hotline. Details of the CR and the complete list of proposed cuts can be found here. The Senate leadership has indicated that they may support the two week CR.

February 25, 2011

FY 2011 Continuing Resolution and Appropriations Update

Both the House and Senate are expected back from recess on February 28, 2011, giving them just five days until the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution expires on March 4, 2011. There has been no shortage of speculation in the media as to whether a compromise spending bill can be reached before March 4, or whether the government will shutdown in absence of a new Continuing Resolution. The only spending bill that has passed to date includes over $60 billion in spending cuts, including the following that will impact federal support of afterschool programs:

· The 21^st Century Community Learning Center initiative would be cut by $100 million. Over the course of a year a $100 million cut would result in 100,000 fewer children being provided with needed programs (this table shows the impact of such a cut at the state level.) The cut also means a loss of about 10,000 jobs. More.

· The Corporation for National and Community Service would be eliminated. This would result in an immediate end to the AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA, Retired Senior Volunteer Corps, and Learn and Serve America programs. It is estimated that currently about 27,000 AmeriCorps and VISTA participants assist afterschool programs. More.

· The Child Care Development Block Grant would be cut by $39 million. A portion of those funds support care for children ages 12 and under. More.

· Juvenile Justice would be cut by $191 million, including the possibility of cutting funding for prevention of youth violence through mentoring and afterschool arts programs. More.

An updated table showing figures for all proposed cuts to the Department of Education is now available on the Department's website here.

Friends of afterschool programs can continue to reach out to Congress urging support for afterschool programs.

February 19, 2011

Continuing Resolution Passes the House

Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed HR 1, a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government from March 4, 2011, through September 30, 2011, the end of the current fiscal year. HR 1 cuts more than $100 billion in federal spending compared to the President's fiscal year 2011 budget request. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21stCCLC) initiative is cut by $100 million. Over the course of a year a $100 million cut would result in over 100,000 fewer children being provided needed programs, as well as thousands of lost jobs. This table shows the impact of such a cut at the state level. Among the amendments that passed were those that cut the National Endowments for the Arts (which funds afterschool arts programs) as well as one that includes a $336.6 million cut to School Improvement Grants. HR 1 also includes elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service which provides Americorps and VISTA support for afterschool programs, as well as a cut to the Child Care Development Block Grant which funds school-age care.

The House and Senate are on recess the week of February 21, 2011. The Senate is expected to vote on HR 1 during the week of February 28th. Now is the time to make the case for support and funding of school and community based before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs that inspire learning, keep kids safe and help working families. Encourage your Members of Congress to visit afterschool programs, talk to them about afterschool, and send an email today in support of afterschool programs.

February 16, 2011

FY2011 Appropriations Update: The Amendments

As we hit the middle of the week, there continue to be two different fiscal year budgets in the news: the President's FY2012 budget proposal (see the entry below from February 14, 2011) that would fund the fiscal year that starts on October 1, 2011, and ends on September 30, 2012; and the House of Representatives Continuing Resolution (CR) budget for the federal government for the seven months remaining in FY2011 (through September 30, 2011). The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the CR this week, before sending it to the Senate shortly before the current CR expires on March 4, 2011. As part of the House Continuing Resolution, HR 1, over $100 billion in spending cuts are proposed, details of which can be found below under the entry from February 11, 2011. Additionally about 700 amendments have been introduced, many of which would further cut federal spending. Several of these would directly impact federal education and afterschool program funding:

· Campbell amendment #6, which would cut non-security programs by an additional $16 billion. If this additional cut were applied proportionately to all domestic agencies, education programs would be cut by an additional $2 billion.

· Campbell amendment #7, which would cut non-security programs by an additional $14 billion. If this additional cut were applied proportionately to all domestic agencies, education programs would be cut by an additional $1.8 billion.

· Tipton amendment #19, which cuts all funds in the bill by an additional 1%, cutting education programs by an additional $593 million.

· Poe amendment #169 – eliminates funds for NSF elementary/secondary education programs

· Pearce amendment #343 which prohibits any finds from being expended in excess of authorized amounts. Since the authorization of appropriations for all ESEA programs, including 21st CCLC, have expired, this amendment would eliminate finding for ALL ESEA programs – cutting more than an additional $20 billion.

· Blackburn amendment #423 which cuts all funding in the bill by an additional 5%, which would cut education programs by an additional $3 billion

· Mack amendment #454 which eliminates all funding for ESEA programs. This would eliminate over $20 billion for Title I, school improvement grants, 21st CCLC afterschool programs, Impact Aid, teacher quality, Indian education, rural education, English Language Act acquisition grants, charter schools, magnet schools, and many other programs.

· Lamborn amendments # 503 and 504 which increase funding for DoD by further cutting funding for all domestic programs including education.

· Campbell amendment #518 which further cuts non-security funding by an additional 5.5%, which would result in an additional cut to education programs of $3.3 billion.

· Campbell amendment #518 which further cuts non-security funding by an additional 3.5%, which would result in an additional cut to education programs of $2.1 billion.

· LaTourette amendment # 540 which cuts aggregate funding for Labor-HHS-Education programs by 17.33% below FY 10. If this cut were applied proportionately to each agency, Education would be cut by $11.1 billion below FY 10 – almost triple the cut already contained in HR 1.

Friends of afterschool programs should continue to reach out to Members of Congress on the importance of afterschool programs.

February 14, 2011

Presidents Proposed FY2012 Budget Includes $100 million Increase for 21^st CCLC

This morning the President released his budget request for FY2012 including proposed increases for the key initiatives that support afterschool programs. Overall the $3.7 trillion budget blueprint includes more than 200 program terminations and reductions representing over $30 billion in savings. The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers initiative received a $100 million increase. Consistent with last year’s proposal, the Administration proposes opening up 21^st CCLC to support expanded learning time programs and community schools, in addition to before-school, afterschool and summer programs. The budget materials include the following explanation of proposed program changes, including a desire to change the program from one that is formula funded to one that is competitive between state education agencies:

The Administration’s reauthorization proposal for 21st Century Community Learning Centers would support before- and after-school programs, summer enrichment programs, summer school programs, expanded-learning-time programs, and full-service community schools. All local projects would provide additional time for students, including students with the greatest academic needs and those who are meeting State academic achievement standards, to participate in (1) academic activities that are aligned with the instruction those students receive during the regular school day and are targeted to their academic needs; and (2) enrichment and other activities that complement the academic program. Projects could also provide teachers the time they need to collaborate, plan, and engage in professional development within and across grades and subjects. This enhanced flexibility would allow communities to determine the best strategies for enabling their students and teachers to get the time and support they need. The $100 million increase proposed for 2012 would support the broader range of programs and strategies proposed under reauthorization and enable grantees to provide higher-quality programming to students and their families.

In terms of the Education Department overall, the proposal includes a $7.5 billion increase, but $5.4 billion of that is reserved for Pell Grants. The budget proposal advances the concepts developed in A Blueprint for Reform, the administration’s proposal for the reauthorization of ESEA that was released in March 2010. The President’s new budget proposal also includes

· $150 million for the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, an increase from the $10 million planning grants in the FY2010 budget.

· Continued support for the Race to the Top program requesting $900 million, though school districts would be able to apply for the grants directly.

· $300 million for the Investing in Innovation Fund.

· School Improvement Grants, now called School Turnaround Grants, would see an increase of $54 million for a total of $600 million.

· Funding for the Safe, Successful and Healthy Students Initiative at $365 million, which consolidates several existing programs including the Physical Education Program.

Outside of the Department of Education, the budget includes $6.3 billion for the Child Care and Development Fund, an increase of $1.3 billion, to support 1.7 million children with child care subsidies. Of the $1.3 billion increase, $800 million would be discretionary funds (appropriated on annual basis and does not require a state match) and $500 million would be mandatory funds (which would require a state match).

Lastly, the budget proposes $1.258 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, an increase of $107.9 million (9.4 percent) above the FY 2010 enacted level of $1.15 billion. The adjoining budget documents state that “although reaching the goal of engaging 250,000 AmeriCorps members will be extremely difficult in this constrained environment, the Budget provides Americans with more opportunities to serve, gain valuable job and leadership skills, and foster innovation in communities across the country.” Click here for the Afterschool Alliance's statement on the FY2012 budget request.

February 11, 2011

House FY 2011 Continuing Resolution Released, Includes Proposed Cuts to Afterschool Program Funding

Just three days before the President is expected to release his proposed budget for FY2012, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) introduced a Continuing Resolution (CR) that would fund the government from March 4th (when the current CR expires) through September 30, 2011. According to the summary released by the Appropriations Committee, "the fiscal year 2011 CR crafted by the House Appropriations Committee represents the largest reduction in non-security discretionary spending in the history of the nation." The legislation cuts more than $100 billion in federal spending compared to the President's fiscal year 2011 budget request, Department of Education spending is cut by $4.899 billion compared to FY 2010. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative is cut by $100 million. Over the course of a year a $100 million cut would result in 100,000 fewer children being provided needed programs (this table shows the impact of such a cut at the state level.) The CR eliminates funding for the Americorps program. The Child Care Development Block Grant is cut by $39 million. A table detailing all proposed funding levels can be found here. The Continuing Resolution (HR 1) is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives this month. It must then be passed by the Senate and signed by the President. If both chambers cannot agree on a CR by March 4th, another temporary CR must be passed or the government could temporarily shutdown.

Friends of afterschool programs should continue to reach out to Members of Congress on the importance of afterschool programs.

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