Closing the Doors on Afterschool Programs: An
Analysis of How the Proposed FY2004 Cut to the 21st
Century Community Learning Centers Program Will Affect
Children and Families in Every State (Released Spring 2003)
To assess the impact of a $400 million cut to the
21st Century Community Learning Centers program proposed
by President Bush for fiscal year 2004, the
Afterschool Alliance has issued a new report called,
Closing the Doors on Afterschool Programs: An Analysis
of How the Proposed Cut to the 21st Century Community
Learning Centers Program Will Affect Children and
Families in Every State.
The report illustrates the effect the proposed cut
in the FY2004 Budget would have on the availability
of afterschool programs in each of the 50 states and
the District of Columbia. Where available, analysis
of the state's ability to meet the current demand
for afterschool program grants is also provided.
A review of the data shows that the demand for 21st
Century afterschool programs far exceeds the resources
available. In fact, among the 31 states reporting
2002 grant data, 75 percent of applicants' funding
requests had to be denied. Without doubt, the 40 percent
budget cut proposed by President Bush would widen
this gap significantly. At the proposed $600 million
budget level for FY2004, program growth would halt,
and many 21st Century afterschool programs across
all 50 states would be forced to close their doors.
More than 550,000 children would lose access to afterschool
programs.
