8,500 advocates join the fight to protect afterschool

As soon as the President released his FY2026 budget proposal that puts funding for afterschool and summer programs at risk, afterschool advocates across the country united to send a strong message to Congress: keep funding for the local programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families.

Released Friday, May 2, the President’s proposed budget appears to eliminate or consolidate the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool and summer programs. The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative supports 10,000 local programs serving 1.4 million youth, and elimination of the funding would be devastating for so many families. Read our Executive Director’s statement on the skinny budget.

In just one week:

• 8,500 people have contacted their representatives in Congress, for a total of roughly 25,500 emails and calls over the past week
   
• On Monday, May 5, a letter coordinated by the Afterschool Alliance was sent to Congressional Appropriators in support of 21st CCLC funding, signed by 260 local, state, and national organizations, representing all 50 states
   
• On Tuesday, May 6, a corps of 55 advocates from 19 states went to Capitol Hill and met in person with nearly 70 offices as part of the Afterschool for All Challenge
   
• AfterschoolWorksforAmerica.org went live, providing tools for supporters to join the campaign to save funding and help get the word out
   
• A map was launched showing the potential impact in every state

All of us at the Afterschool Alliance are so proud of the field’s tremendous and powerful response, and we are thankful for your efforts. We will keep leading the call to keep the lights on afterschool and in the summer, and will gladly amplify your voices. This is the first step in what will be a long process – keep your advocacy going!  Use these tools to get more people engaged in the effort to save afterschool!

If you haven’t contacted your reps, do it now

• Get the word out on social
   
• Let programs and families know
   
• Hold a site visit