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July 28, 2010
Senate Appropriations Language Would Divert Afterschool Funding
Late on July 27, 2010, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee passed a fiscal year 2011 education spending bill that changes the purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) program allowing the funds to be diverted to school district programs that add time to the school day. Currently 21st CCLC funds can only be used for before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs. While the Subcommittee proposed an increase of $100 million for 21st CCLC, the diversion of funds will mean fewer children have access to quality afterschool programs. Longer school days still often end before 4 pm leaving working parents worried about children being left alone.
The language in the Appropriations Subcommittee press release reads as follows:
Extended Learning Time—A growing body of evidence suggests that students benefit academically from a longer school day and a longer school year. The bill includes a change allowing grants for 21st century community learning centers program to be used to help communities establish or expand extended learning time that includes both academic instruction and enrichment opportunities, and to support a more systemic restructuring of the school year. The bill includes an increase of $100 million for the 21st century community learning centers program, for a total of $1.266 billion.
The role of community based organizations under such a proposed change is unclear. The full Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on the FY2011 education spending bill on Thursday afternoon, July 29,2010. The House Appropriations Subcommittee marked up their version of the FY2011 education spending bill earlier this month, including a $35 million increase for 21st CCLC with funds remaining exclusively for before school, afterschool and summer learning programs.
Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant issued a strong statement in response to the Appropriations Subcommittee’s action. Afterschool advocates residing in states that are represented on the full Appropriations Committee are encouraged to call on their Senators to oppose diverting afterschool funding.
July 26, 2010
Late last week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1469, the Child Protection Improvements Act of 2009. The bill extends a current pilot program to make background checks widely available to youth-serving organizations by giving the Attorney General authority to:
The bill also imposes limitations on the disclosure or use of criminal history records. Approved by a vote of 413-4 on Thursday, July 22, 2010, the bipartisan legislation was co-sponsored by 14 Members of Congress including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Michael Rogers (R-MI.) The companion bill in the Senate, S 1598, is sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and also has gained bipartisan support. For more on the legislation, click here.
July 21, 2010
Two Newly Introduced Bills Would Support Afterschool
This month two new bills were introduced in the Senate that would positively impact afterschool programs. Both the Mentoring America’s Children Act (S. 3559) and the DIPLOMA Act (S. 3595) have the potential to strengthen afterschool coordination and infrastructure at the state and local level. The Mentoring America’s Children Act, introduced by Senator Dodd (D-CT), co-chair of the afterschool caucus, would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to strengthen mentoring programs for youths lacking strong positive role models. It would increase focus on the outcomes of children as a result of “school connectedness, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing academic performance.” The bill would seek to redefine those who qualify for mentoring, as well as initial and subsequent grant requirements for eligible entities to become mentors. The bill would clarify goals of mentoring programs and include means for continued measurement of mentoring success, along with research grants for school-based mentoring programs. It would also serve to provide greater support for eligible mentors, including training opportunities. The bill has been referred to the Senate Subcommittee on Health, Labor, and Pensions.
The Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement (DIPLOMA) Act (S. 3595) was introduced by Senator Brown (D-OH) and Senator Sanders (I-VT.) The bill would provide States funds to:
Local consortia, consisting of at least one school district and one external partner organization, with priority given to consortia comprised of a broad array of stakeholders-- school districts, community based organizations, local government, service providers, students, parents, and others who have demonstrated records of effectiveness - would compete for funds to:
These and over 45 other bills relating to afterschool introduced this Congress can be tracked on the Afterschool Alliance’s website here.
July 16, 2010
$35 Million Increase Proposed for 21st CCLC
On July 15, the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies marked up the Fiscal Year 2011 spending bill for Education, including an increase of $35 million for the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) afterschool initiative. Across the country, families are struggling to make ends meet. Now more than ever, they need the afterschool programs that keep their children safe and inspire them to learn. Last fall, the Afterschool Alliance released a national survey which found that more than a quarter of children are alone after school and that the parents of 18 million children would enroll them in afterschool programs, if those programs were available. The FY2011 Education spending bill is expected to go before a full House Appropriations Committee mark up later this month, although the timeframe is unclear. The Administration had level funded the program, and the Education budget remains tight The Appropriations process has not yet started on the Senate side.
July 15, 2010
Child Nutrition Reauthorization with Afterschool Meals Passes House Education & Labor Committee
The House Education and Labor Committee passed bipartisan legislation this morning that supports children’s health and reduces childhood hunger by improving the federal child nutrition programs. The Committee passed the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, H.R. 5504 with a bipartisan vote of 32-13. Child nutrition advocates are calling for the bill to move to the House floor before Congress goes on recess in August. The current Child Nutrition Act expires on September 30, 2010. Click here for an action alert on child nutrition reauthorization.
The bill includes an expansion of the afterschool meals program from the current 14 states and District of Columbia to all 50 states- a priority important to the afterschool field because of the impact these meals have on addressing childhood hunger and promoting healthy eating habits. The afterschool meal expansion provision has not been in the version of H.R. 5504 but was added to the bill during the Committee’s mark up today. According to the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill also significantly increases access and removes barriers to child nutrition programs, improves the quality of the meals served and implements new school food safety guidelines. Additionally, for the first time, the legislation would require schools to set standards for foods served outside the cafeteria, including vending machines.
In addition to other amendments offered by committee Members, the committee voted on and passed a managers amendment, offered by Chairman Miller, that would bolster the legislation and help achieve President Obama’s goal of enhancing and improving the federal child nutrition programs. The amendment would expand the national afterschool meals program so more children in afterschool programs can have an additional snack or meal. Among other provisions, it would improve nutrition education and make further enhancements to food safety and food quality. The bill helps address access to the federal child nutrition programs in rural communities, particularly during the summer months when school is out.
June 20, 2010
New Report Shows Summer Nutrition Programs Failing to Meet Growing Need
While participation in virtually every other key federal nutrition program has grown to meet increased need during the recession, participation in the Summer Nutrition Programs fell last summer according to Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation: Summer Nutrition Status Report, an analysis released yesterday by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Structural problems in the nutrition programs were exacerbated by all too-familiar budget cuts by state and local governments to summer schools and summer learning programs, which eroded the number of programs where summer food could be offered. The combination meant that when summer food participation needed to be rising, there instead was a dip of 2.5 percent – or 73,000 low-income children – from July 2008 to July 2009.
The loss of summer school sites in many states meant that the platforms on which Summer Nutrition Programs – which include the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program – rely often were no longer available. Afterschool and summer learning program providers know firsthand the importance of providing one or more meals to children during their program day: children can’t learn and focus without a good, nutritious meal. For states, low participation means they are missing out on available federal funds that can help them feed children when they are the hungriest. If states boosted participation to serve just 40 percent of eligible low-income children, they would receive an additional $289 million in federal funds just for July nutrition programs – and help an additional 4.2 million children.
Despite the nationwide state budget challenges, some states managed to improve participation and reach more low-income children with summer meals. West Virginia led the way with a 24.8 percent increase in the number of children served by the Summer Nutrition Programs in July 2009, compared to 2008, followed by Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi and Montana. On the other hand, 11 states served less than one-tenth of their low-income children through their Summer Nutrition Programs in 2009. The fact that so many states managed to increase participation, and in particular that Summer Food Service Program numbers of sites and children served rose (while school lunch summer sites plummeted) shows that there are inherent strengths in the program on which administrators and policymakers can build.
With Child Nutrition Reauthorization pending in Congress this summer, the following recommendations are worthy of consideration:
June 14, 2010
Organizations Write to House Education & Labor Committee on Afterschool
Last week over 175 local, state and national organizations, from the National School Boards Association and the National Black Police Association to the United Way and the American Heart Association, sent a letter to House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Miller (D-CA) and Ranking Member Kline (R-MN) supporting afterschool programs within ESEA Reauthorization. Similar to the letter sent to the Senate HELP Committee earlier this month the letter details the benefits of 21st CCLC programs including academic and behavioral gains for the over one million children who participate in before-school, afterschool or summer learning programs through the federally funded program. The letter of support states that “now is the time to expand access for more of our most at-risk students, not divert much needed afterschool funding to other programs.” The letter goes on to say “In addition to protecting and expanding afterschool programming and opposing any cuts to this much needed program, we urge the Committee to look to afterschool partners when designing school reform models.”
June 10,2010
UPDATE: Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill Introduced in the House
At a press conference on the grounds of the Capitol Building this morning, House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller, Representatives DeLauro (D-CT), McGovern (D-MA), McCarthy (D-NY) and Platts (R-PA) unveiled the details of new legislation to improve the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, support community efforts to reduce childhood hunger and to establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. Also at the event were daytime host Rachael Ray, several chefs, and anti-hunger and child nutrition advocates. Overall the bill, named the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act,” includes elements that seek to reduce childhood obesity, improve school wellness, implement new school food safety guidelines, and support public and private partnerships to improve child nutrition. With regard to afterschool and summer learning program providers, there are several components to the bill of note:
The bill authorizes $8 billion over 10 years, which is more than the Senate child nutrition reauthorization bill, however discussions continue over the amount of funding in both House and Senate versions of the bill.
June 9, 2010
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Waiting in the Wings?
With the Senate version of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) bill awaiting floor time, it is possible the House version of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill will be introduced in early June. In anticipation, the Food Research and Action Center and others are calling for an advocacy day on Thursday, June 10, and a national call-in day the 10 and 11 of June. If you live near Washington, D.C. consider joining advocates on Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 10 for a CNR Lobby Day.
Can't make it to D.C.? Call your Members of Congress during the National CNR Call-In Days, Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11, and tell them to support a robustly funded Child Nutrition Reauthorization. The House Education and Labor Committee is expected to take up the legislation ("mark up") in the weeks following introduction, making the Congressional work period before the July 4 recess critical to the overall success of reauthorization. It will also be a critical time to support efforts to reach President Obama's commitment of $1 billion a year/10 years in new funding for child nutrition programs.
Expansion of the afterschool meals/supper program (which was included in the Senate version) remains a top priority for the afterschool community, along with improving access to the summer feeding program. A summary of Chairman Miller's bill will be available after the bill is introduced.
June 8, 2010
Additional TANF and Summer Jobs Funding on the Horizon?
On Friday, May 28, prior to leaving for Memorial Day recess, the House of Representatives passed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213). The bill extended the federal Unemployment Insurance program, included additional provisions to assist the jobless and build affordable housing, renewed a number of tax breaks that had been earlier allowed to expire, and prevented a reduction in reimbursements to physicians under the Medicare program.
With Congress coming back from recess today, the Senate is expected to consider the legislation in early June. Among the provisions in H.R. 4213 was a one year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund, set to expire on September 30 of this year.
The $2.5 billion Fund will allow states to continue providing short-term or monthly assistance to impoverished families with children and will also allow more funds for subsidized jobs. Several states including Georgia and Michigan have successfully used TANF funds to support afterschool programs. The House bill also includes $1 billion for summer and year-round jobs for youth, estimated to create 300,000 – 350,000 jobs at a time when employment and paid enrichment programs for older youth are scarce. Updates on the bill will be posted as the legislation makes its way through Congress and eventually to the President’s desk.
June 2, 2010
More than 150 Groups Sign Letter Supporting Afterschool Programs in ESEA
This week a letter expressing support for afterschool programs and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, signed by 170 local, state and national organizations, was sent to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi. The letter details the benefits of the 21st CCLC program including academic and behavioral gains for the over one million children who participate in before-school, afterschool or summer learning programs through the federally funded program. Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act authorizes the 21st CCLC program.
The letter of support states that “now is the time to expand access for more of our most at-risk students, not divert much needed afterschool funding to other programs.” The letter goes on to say “In addition to protecting and expanding afterschool programming and opposing any cuts to this much needed program, we urge the Committee to look to afterschool partners when designing school reform models.”
The 40 national organizations and 130 state and local groups from 35 states that signed the letter included the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Boy Scouts of America, the American Heart Association, National PTA, the National Black Police Association, United Way Worldwide and the Food Research and Action Center. Senate HELP Committee staff is reportedly working on drafting an ESEA reauthorization bill this summer.
May 19, 2010
Mayors Weigh-In on Afterschool and ESEA Reauthorization
This week forty five mayors affiliated with the U.S. Conference of Mayor sent a letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Michael Enzi urging their continued support and expansion of before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. The letter reads in part:
“As mayors working in cities all over the nation, we understand how critical this program is to providing support for more than 1 million children in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A wealth of research and data demonstrates that these programs help children academically, socially and behaviorally.”
Signing on to the letter were mayors from all parts of the country including Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz of Burnsville, Minnesota, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; David N. Cicilline of Providence, Rhode Island, who serves as Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Children, Health and Human Service Committee; Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles; and Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston.
May 13, 2010
Witnesses at House Hearing Support Increased Funding for Afterschool
On May 12, 2010, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, held a morning hearing that covered fiscal year 2011 program funding. Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant testified briefly on the need for increased federal support of afterschool programs as well as concerns with the President’s proposed budget. Grant also introduced Afterschool Ambassador Chris Francis, CEO of the YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, who testified on the impact that 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding has had on the lives of students in his part of Wisconsin. Following their testimony, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) spoke about skipping school frequently when he was a student and the important role played by two teachers in an afterschool-like setting who ‘helped land him in Congress, rather than a very different institution.’ The key points made in Grant’s and Francis’ testimony included:
Also at the hearing, Sherriff Dean Roland representing Fight Crime, Invest in Kids testified in support of increased Child Care Development Block Grant funding, a portion of which can help support afterschool programs as well. Members of Congress present at the hearing included Chairman Obey (D-WI), Nita M. Lowey D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Jim Moran (D-VA), Dennis R. Rehberg (R-MT), and Rodney Alexander (R-LA).
May 11, 2010
On May 7, 2010, the Afterschool Alliance submitted comments to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and pensions (HELP) regarding the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA – formerly NCLB.) The letter from Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant outlines several concerns with the Department of Education’s Blueprint on ESEA Reauthorization and details areas that would strengthen support for afterschool programs. The letter emphasized the following with regard to the Blueprint:
* Rather than divert existing 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding to other uses, ESEA should provide separate and enhanced funding streams for:
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program;
Full Service Community Schools; and
Expanding the school day or year.
* Current law should be maintained which provides funds for the 21st CCLC program by formula to the states and District of Columbia, with each State Education Agency (SEA) running a competitive grant program in which local education agencies (LEA), community-based organizations or faith-based organizations can be the lead entity. All grant applications should require school/community partnerships and a strong alignment between the community-based organization and the school.
* Flexibility for the 21st CCLC program should be maintained to allow local communities to determine whether the programming occurs at school, at non-school community-based facilities or a combination of locations.
* Eligibility for the 21st CCLC program state-run competitions should be based on Title I status. With regard to the Carol M. White PEP Grants, the grant program should continue to be open to community based organization and funding should not be consolidated with other programs.
The Committee had requested suggestions on ESEA in anticipation of a reauthorization process that could occur in Congress this year. Based largely on the ESEA recommendations revised last fall and winter with the input of local, state and national afterschool providers and stakeholders, the Afterschool Alliance’s comments emphasize a commitment to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program that provides quality before-school, afterschool and summer learning opportunities to students through partnerships between school and community, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on hands-on enrichment activities that reinforce lessons taught during the school day. Friends of afterschool are encouraged to share their thoughts on ESEA and afterschool with Congress as well, and can do so here.
April 28, 2010
Afterschool, 21st CCLC and Congress
Over the past week, much of the focus of the afterschool community has been on Congress and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization process. This past Monday, over 25 staff members from the House Education and Labor Committee as well as other House offices, attended an Afterschool Alliance briefing on 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and afterschool programs. Last Thursday, afterschool programs testified as part of a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee roundtable on educating the whole child. And a week ago, on April 20, over 600 friends of afterschool programs visited over 250 House and Senate offices to talk about increasing support for afterschool programs – culminating in a Rally for Afterschool on Capitol Hill.
On April 26, 2010, Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant, Vice President Jen Rinehart and Harvard Family Research Center Associate Director Priscilla Little, held a briefing for House staffers on 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and the impact of afterschool programs. Among the information shared with staffers was research on the gains in academic and behavior outcomes resulting from quality afterschool programs, as well as innovations in afterschool programs for older youth. The House Education and Labor Committee is currently working on reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which includes the 21st CCLC program.
On Thursday, April 22, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, convened the fourth in a series of oversight hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The hearing featured experts who work with programs and practices that focus on addressing the needs of the whole student to ensure their academic, emotional, physical and social needs are met by a complete education system.
Among the witnesses were Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO, Harlem Children’s Zone, New York, NY; Karen Pittman, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Forum for Youth Investment, Washington, D.C.; Eric Schwarz, Co-Founder and CEO, Citizen Schools, Boston, MA; Lynsey Wood Jefferies, Executive Director, D.C. Metro, Higher Achievement, Washington, D.C.; and Dan Cardinali, President, Communities in Schools, Arlington, VA. Lynsey Wood Jefferies provided an overview of the successful elements of Higher Achievement, an afterschool program for middle school youth in
These events followed closely on the heels of the Afterschool for All Challenge – which brought the voices of over 600 afterschool providers and advocates to Capitol Hill last week. Learn more below about the Challenge, rally for afterschool, what you can do at home and how you can reach out to Congress.
April 19, 2010
600 Friends of Afterschool Hit Capitol Hill This Week to Urge Congress to Support Afterschool
As part of the 9th Afterschool for All Challenge, 600 supporters of afterschool programs are hitting Capitol Hill on Tuesday, April 20, meeting with Members of Congress and rallying on the Capitol lawn to call for more resources for afterschool programs. Contact Congress this week and add strength to their voices. The President's proposal for fiscal year 2011 and ESEA reauthorization would reduce funding for 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) afterschool programs, and the community partners involved in them. Send an email now OR call your Members’ offices, ask for the education aide, and tell them:
March 29, 2010
Afterschool Alliance Submits Comments on ESEA
On March 26, 2010, the Afterschool Alliance submitted comments to the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor regarding the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), emphasizing the importance and value of afterschool programs. The Committee had requested suggestions on ESEA in anticipation of a reauthorization process that could occur in Congress this year. Based largely on the ESEA recommendations revised last fall and winter with the input of local, state and national afterschool providers and stakeholders, the Afterschool Alliance’s comments emphasize a commitment to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program that provides quality before-school, afterschool and summer learning opportunities to students through partnerships between school and community, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, with an emphasis on hands-on enrichment activities that reinforce lessons taught during the school day. Friends of afterschool are encouraged to share their thoughts on ESEA and afterschool with Congress as well, and can do so here.
March 25, 2010
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Passes Senate Agriculture Committee
The first step towards child nutrition reauthorization was accomplished Wednesday, March 24, 2010 when the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee unanimously passed the Healthy, Hunger Fee Kids Act. The bipartisan legislation introduced by Committee Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) last week invests an unprecedented $4.5 billion in new child nutrition program funding over the next ten years. While the legislation focuses largely on increasing access to nutritious food through the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, the bill also makes changes that would positively benefit afterschool and summer learning program providers and the thousands of children they serve, including a key priority of the Afterschool Alliance- expansion of the afterschool meal/supper program to all 50 states:
Expands Afterschool Meals for At-Risk Children Nationwide. For the vast majority of states, the CACFP at-risk afterschool program only provides reimbursement for a snack. This bill provides communities in all 50 states the ability to be reimbursed for an afterschool supper/meal.
Promotes the Availability and Locations of Summer Food Service Program Meal Sites. Requires school food authorities to coordinate with institutions operating the Summer Food Service Program to develop and distribute materials to families to inform them of the availability and location of summer meal sites.
Piloting Innovative Methods to Feed Hungry, Low-Income Children. The bill provides mandatory funding to test pilot projects to improve the way we feed hungry children, including during out-of-school times.
Connecting More Children to Healthy Local Produce through Farm-to-School Programs. Provides mandatory funding for schools to establish school gardens and to help schools source local foods into school cafeterias.
Promoting Nutrition and Wellness in Child Care Settings. This section establishes nutrition requirements for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and provides guidance and technical assistance to help providers improve the health of young children.
Simplifying Program Rules and Reducing Paperwork for Day Care Sponsors and Providers. Allows Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors greater flexibility with their administrative funds, eliminates the need for sponsors and day care centers to resubmit duplicative paperwork each year, and eliminates wasteful monitoring practices that do not effectively identify fraud.
The legislation must now pass the full Senate. The House version of child nutrition reauthorization is pending in the House Education and Labor Committee.
21st CCLC the Topic of Hearings, Letters in the House of Representatives
Last week the effort to increase federal support of afterschool programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program got a boost in two forms:
Special thanks to all friends of afterschool programs who contacted their Members of Congress in the past several weeks to express support for a strengthened 21st CCLC program. Since the FY2011 budget was released on February 1, 2010, over 1,200 messages have been sent to the Administration while over 540 have been sent to Congress. There is still time to make your voice heard – send a message to your Senators and Representative.
Afterschool and the Department of Education's Blueprint for ESEA
On Saturday, March 13, the Obama Administration released its “Blueprint” for revising ESEA “to help states raise expectations of students and reward schools for producing dramatic gains in student achievement.” The 40-page document was released on the Department of Education’s website. On March 15, Department officials held a conference call with a small group of afterschool representatives to discuss the portion of the Blueprint that addresses 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC).
Key elements of the proposal include:
Many questions remain including whether CBOs would be able to apply directly for funds at the state level from SEAs that win the national competition among states; the amount in dollars of grant awards to be made available to states versus districts; the status of current grants - will these continue their remaining years or transfer to the new structure; and the portion of funds to be awarded to extended day versus afterschool versus community schools.
While answers to these questions continue to be sought, now is the time to weigh in with your Members of Congress. Congress will review the Department's Blueprint and ultimately write their own ESEA law. Email your members of Congress regarding 21st CCLC and afterschool.
March 8, 2010
Secretary Duncan Testifies Before House Committee on ESEA
Last week the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing that featured testimony from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding the Administration's K-12 education reform agenda. The hearing was titled "Building a Stronger Economy: Spurring Reform and Innovation In American Education." Secretary Duncan discussed the Administration's Education budget for FY2011 with Committee Members; the status of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA); and also outlined his vision for a reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
While the Secretary did not mention afterschool or 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (21st CCLC) in his prepared remarks, the topic was the focus of several questions from Members of Congress. Congressman Kildee (D-MI) asked about the Administration's support for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, one that he has long supported and has been invaluable to communities around the country. Secretary Duncan assured Kildee that support for the program was strong and actually offered the promise of $265 million in increased funding for afterschool in the future. Duncan said his support for Supplemental Education Services (SES), afterschool tutoring, expanded learning time (ELT) and other efforts to strengthen and extend the school day for young people was "in his DNA." He also noted that if the Congress succeeded in passing a reauthorized ESEA bill this year, the President promised an additional $1 billion in education funding - some of which would be targeted to afterschool. Kildee followed up by telling the Secretary that though he wanted to work with him he remained concern that ELT would divert funds from core afterschool programs. Read more on the hearing.
March 3, 2010
Senators Dodd and Ensign Introduce 21st CCLC Legislation
Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and John Ensign (R-NV) introduced legislation today to provide more children with safe, healthy, and academically-focused afterschool programs. The Improving 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act of 2010, bill number S. 3061, will improve and expand access to afterschool programs for children across the country.
The original 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program was implemented as part of the No Child Left Behind law. It provides academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. If funded at the level authorized, this program would serve almost 3 million children. Currently, the program serves less than half this amount, leaving millions of children without a safe place to go after school.
Summary of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act of 2010:
Reauthorize this important program and renew the commitment to high-quality afterschool programs.
Provides states with tools designed to sustain high quality afterschool programs by allowing programs to continue to receive federal funding based on their performance. The legislation also gives states the ability to work with programs across the state to further improve the quality of these afterschool programs.
Increase opportunities for children and young people to be more physically active. As childhood-obesity reaches epidemic proportions in our society, allowing for such opportunities is critical to ensuring our children's overall health.
Third, this bill encourages children to be involved in community service and youth development activities. It would encourage volunteer work that integrates student designed service projects with their academic studies. This type of program has been shown to strengthen student engagement, enhance student achievement, lower drop out and suspension rates, develop workforce and leadership skills, and provide opportunities for team work.
February 18, 2010
Congressional Briefing Scheduled on Afterschool Programs for Older Youth
On Wednesday, February 24, 2010, a briefing is scheduled for Senate staffers on the importance and value of quality afterschool programs for older youth. The event, Afterschool Programs for Older Youth: A Briefing on How Afterschool Partnerships Support Student Success, is hosted by the Afterschool Alliance in conjunction with Senator Blanche Lincoln and Senator Evan Bayh. The briefing will take place Wednesday, February 24, 2010, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. in room G-11 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
While only about 500,000 of the 8.4 million students who participate in afterschool programs are in grades 9-12, almost 4 million high school students would participate if programs were available and accessible to them. Only 5% of 21st Century Community Learning Centers exclusively target high school students and none of the Child Care dollars can be used for high school programs. Yet the juvenile crime rate triples between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and older youth who participate in quality afterschool programs avoid those pitfalls while getting an academic boost. Studies show that when older youth participate in afterschool programs they demonstrate increased school attendance, improved homework completion, increased standardized test scores, on time promotion to the next grade, improved social and problem solving skills and increased graduation rates.
Afterschool Programs for Older Youth will highlight successful before-school, afterschool and summer programs for older youth as well as the need for legislation like the ASPIRE Act that would provide a dedicated funding stream for programs serving older youth. Featured Speakers include:
The briefing is open to the public, please email info@afterschoolalliance.org to RSVP. Click here for more information and issue briefs on older youth and afterschool programs.
The President’s proposed FY2011 budget poses grave concerns, along with a few bright spots, for funding of quality afterschool, before school and summer programs. Most
