Making the case for increasing 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding

On March 23, Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance Co-director Felicia Simpson testified at a hearing of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-E) Appropriations Subcommittee in support of increased funding for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) that support local afterschool and summer learning programs in Alabama and nationwide.

Speaking of behalf of afterschool and summer learning programs in the State of Alabama, and addressing the Subcommittee led by Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Simpson made the case for an investment by Congress of $2.09 billion in fiscal year 2024 for 21st CCLC. The increased funds are needed to address the demand for afterschool and summer learning programs and to build on past success. Simpson’s wide-ranging testimony spoke to the critical role programs play in rural communities; the breadth of activities they provide based on local needs including STEM, JROTC, and youth workforce development; and the strong outcomes that support the academic, social, and emotional well-being of the 1.5 million students who participate in 21st CCLCs, stating:

Students and communities absolutely benefit from afterschool programs. Students who regularly participate improved their school attendance, health-related behaviors, and math and reading achievement. Regular participation helped narrow the achievement gap between high-and low-income students in math, improved academic and behavioral outcomes, and reduced school-day absences. With jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) driving economic growth, afterschool gives nearly six million students opportunities to explore STEM.

The testimony concluded with a heartfelt call for increasing the funding available for 21^st CCLC to address the tremendous demand for programs:

This is why I urge you to increase funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers by $750 million in fiscal year 2024 to give more young people… opportunities to learn and thrive. Out-of-school time programming was once a privilege afforded to few. Now, it has become a non-negotiable for supporting children and families.

Following Simpson’s  testimony, Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member DeLauro commented on the important role 21st CCLC plays in providing quality learning environments for so many students. Rep. DeLauro referenced former House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey’s (D-N.Y.) strong support for the program that now bears her name. The FY 2024 appropriations process continues this spring, with the Subcommittee and then full House ppropriations Committee expected to mark-up their LHHS-E spending bill, before sending it to the full House for approval. Proposals to reduce overall federal spending to FY 2022 level continue to be discussed in the House, making the testimony in support of 21st CCLC all the more important.

On the same day, 45 members of Congress, led by House Afterschool Caucus co-chair David Cicilline (D-R.I.) joined the call for increased funding for 21st CCLC by submitting a Dear Colleague Letter to Labor-HHS-Education House Appropriations Subcommittee leadership also calling for a $750 million increase in funding for 21st CCLC for FY 2024. More than 200 local, state, and national organizations echoed that same call for robust funding for 21st CCLC by sending their own letter of support, writing:

At a time when more families and students need afterschool and summer programs, 21st CCLC providers must be able to build on 25 years of excellence in the field—not be stuck choosing between serving more youth or paying staff competitive wages. Increasing funding for this proven program will continue to reap benefits not only in the communities where the 10,500 21st Century Community Learning Centers currently thrive, but also where youth are waiting for access, including in many of the other almost 50,000 Title I schools where the program could reach.

This week, young people around the nation are stepping up to add their voices to the call for increasing federal support for afterschool and summer learning programs during Youth Voice Week. You can join them by contacting Congress on March 30 and urging elected officials to support the programs that support young people.