Federal Afterschool Policy

The Afterschool Alliance’s policy priorities for the 118th Congress aim to increase access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs for all young people with an emphasis on children who need it most:

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)
Central to increasing access to programs and building program quality is ensuring that local afterschool and summer learning programs are able to leverage federal funding. 21stCCLC is the primary source of federal afterschool and summer learning funding. For fiscal year 2026, we urge Congress and the Administration to fund 21st CCLC at the $2 billion level to ensure children and their families continue to have access to quality programming when school is out.

Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
School-age children represent approximately 45% of all children served through CCDBG. Strengthening school-age program quality and access is a priority at the federal as well as state and local level.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
In addition to 21st CCLC (Title IV part B), Title I, Title IV Part A, and Title IV Part F funds of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) can support local afterschool programs.

Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Reauthorization is an opportunity to build career pathways and include afterschool and summer learning programs as partners in the effort to provide students with activities and experiences such as competency based learning, hands-on STEM, mentorships, site visits, and apprenticeships.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
Increasing access to quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) afterschool. Learn how to make the case for afterschool STEM with talking points and other resources from The Afterschool STEM Hub.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Improving access to nutritious meals in afterschool and summer learning programs is vital - including streamlining federal child nutrition programs like the afterschool meal and summer feeding programs, and increasing physical education and activity, nutrition education and access to nutritious food in out of school time programs.

Student Well-Being and Healthy Development. 
Youth in afterschool programs build social skills, confidence, and positive relationships with mentors and peers. Increasing access to programs provides a much-needed support for today’s young people.

Higher Education Act (HEA) 
Last reauthorized in 2008, the legislation is due for an update and Congress is actively considering how to move forward. In 2019, the House Ed and Labor Committee introduced the College Affordability Act which had some excellent provisions on afterschool and community engagement in education but also includes a troubling change to Federal Work Study that would remove the important 7% Community Service Set Aside. Read a letter from the group Campus Compact to learn more..

Additional Federal Policy Issues

Older Youth and Afterschool: Partnering to Improve Results
As the nation struggles to improve high school achievement and prepare the next generation for college and the 21st century workforce, it is clear that older youth in the middle grades are critical. More time is often needed to ensure that students are prepared during these transition years for long-term success. The Afterschool Alliance has research and policy efforts aimed at securing more support for afterschool programs serving older youth.

Afterschool in Rural Communities: The Investment in Afterschool Programs Act 
Afterschool programs are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of young people in rural communities. That’s why the Afterschool Alliance is working with Congress to create a funding stream specifically for afterschool programs in rural communities.

Congressional Caucuses

A list of the current members of the House and Senate Afterschool Caucuses. See if your Rep is a member.

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