Election 2024 results: What may be next for afterschool

As the dust settles from Election Day 2024, the results have various possible implications for public support of afterschool and summer learning programs at the federal, state and local levels. Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant wrote on our blog on Nov. 6, “We will continue to forge ahead, in partnership with you, to ensure that all children and youth have access to affordable, high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs.” Support for afterschool programs continues to be bipartisan with an overwhelming majority of parents, regardless of political affiliation, agreeing that all young people deserve access to quality afterschool and summer programs.

The overwhelming bipartisan support for afterschool and summer programs is largely because these programs are essential for fostering academic success, social development, and providing a safe environment for children during out-of-school hours that allows parents peace of mind. That said, as party control shifts in Washington, there will be challenges that need to be addressed, as well as opportunities to seize. Below is a look at the current political landscape and what it may mean for afterschool and summer learning programs.

White House

With former President Trump becoming the 47th President of the United States, it is helpful to look at the Trump Campaign and Republican Party platform, Agenda 47, and how it approaches education issues and afterschool and summer program supports. The campaign emphasized state and local leadership on education-related activities, and tended to support the private sector as more efficient than the public sector for accomplishing goals. This could lead to a renewed focus on support for private school vouchers that families could use toward private school education, more tax policy supporting private school tuition, and “local control” for public schools. Among the specific education proposals:

• “Cultivate great K-12 schools, ensure safe learning environments free from political meddling, and restore Parental Rights.”
   
• “Committed to an Education System that empowers students, supports families, and promotes American Values… that must prepare students for successful lives and well-paying jobs.”
   
• “Close the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. and send it back to the States, where it belongs, and let the States run our educational system as it should be run.”
   
• Make permanent the provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that doubled the standard deduction and expanded the Child Tax Credit
   
• “Emphasize Education to prepare students for great jobs and careers, supporting project-based learning and schools that offer meaningful work experience… fund proven career training programs.”

The proposal to close the Department of Education has received a lot of attention, and has been discussed by some for more than 20 years. Ultimately, while a possibility, closing the Department would be very complicated, require approval from Congress and the expenditure of a great deal of political capital. It may not be as high a priority for the Trump Administration as other initiatives. Tax policy changes are expected to dominate the first session of the 119th Congress and the debate could present an opportunity for favorable tax credits for families in need. The same debate could host the discussion of conservative proposals to create privately-funded “Education Freedom Scholarships.” These “scholarships” could be established to provide eligible parents funds to pay for a range of services, including afterschool and summer learning programs.

A presidential platform is much like the president’s annual budget request—it is a wish list of policy priorities and concepts. The newly elected president will be assisted by an education transition team, and will then have to prioritize, and discern which elements are achievable via executive action, which proposals will need collaboration with Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and which might be too ambitious to pursue.

Moving forward as advocates in support of afterschool and summer learning programs, it will continue to be important to point out the benefits of federal education and afterschool/summer investments – for students and families immediately and for economic growth in the long term. While the previous Trump Administration proposed to eliminate or consolidate federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding for afterschool and summer four different times, Congress chose to reject the proposed elimination and instead increase federal funding for 21st CCLC by $60 million over the four years of the previous Trump Administration. This is a credit to the work of the field, the positive outcomes of afterschool programs, collective advocacy, and support from bipartisan champions in Congress. We will need to communicate well, broaden our community of advocates, and target our efforts so they are as effective as possible to ensure that federal support for afterschool remains strong.

U.S. House of Representatives

As of November 13, control of the House has yet to be determined, with 12 races yet to be called. Regardless of which party ultimately controls the House, the margin of the majority will continue to be quite small, as was the case in the 118th Congress. House and Committee leadership will begin to take shape over the next two months. Change in leadership of the House Education and the Workforce Committee is expected, and there will be shuffling among other committee leaders. Many champions of afterschool in the House will continue to serve in the 119th Congress, although some will not return due to retirements, resignation, or lost elections. The new Congress is also an opportunity to reach out to newly-elected members of Congress to share the importance and value of afterschool and summer programs, and begin cultivating new champions.

House Afterschool Champions returning include:

• Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.)
• Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.)
• Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon)
• Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio)
• Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.)
• Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.)
• Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)
• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)
• Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D- Calif.)
• Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
• Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.)
• Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa)
• Rep. John James (R-Mich.)
• Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.)
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.)
• Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.)

House Afterschool Champions who will not be in 119th Congress

• Del. Gonzalez-Colon (R-P.R.) did not seek re-election
• Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) did not seek re-election
• Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.)
• Rep. Yadira Caradevo, MD (D-Colo.)

House Afterschool champions in races not yet called as of Nov. 13

• Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.)
• Rep Mary Peltola (D-Alaska)

US Senate

Republicans will control the Senate start next year with Republicans winning a minimum of 53 seats. Change in party control brings change in key Committee leadership, as well as a new Senate Majority Leader. Minority Leader Senator McConnell (R-Ky.) will not lead his party in the new Congress. This week, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) was selected to be Majority Leader of the Senate.

As for Committee leadership, with regard to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is currently the ranking Republican on Appropriations and in line to be Chair, but Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also has seniority on this Committee. Sen. Collins is a founding chair of the Senate Afterschool Caucus and long-time champion of afterschool programs. As for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which has jurisdiction over education and health and human services, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is currently the top Republican on the Committee and in line to Chair, but if Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) takes Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) leadership spot on Appropriations, Collins could make a play for Cassidy’s leadership position in the HELP Committee. In the Senate Agriculture Committee, which could take on child nutrition reauthorization in the 119th Congress, Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) is in line to be Chair, but, again, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could use his committee seniority to become the lead Republican. Sen. Boozman has championed summer nutrition programs in the past.

As in the House, the Senate will have a number of established champions, although some will not be back. The election provides an opportunity to reach out to newly elected Senators to share the importance and value of afterschool and summer programs, and begin cultivating new champions.

Senate Afterschool champions returning for the 119th Congress include:

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.)
• Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
• Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.V.)
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
• Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada)
• Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
• Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)
• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)
• Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)

Senate Afterschool Champions who will not be in 119th Congress

• Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
• Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.)
• Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) did not seek re-election
• Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) did not seek re-election

What’s Next?

While the election may be over, it is still a good time to promote the importance of afterschool and summer learning programs. Reach out to returning and new elected officials at the local, state and federal level. The Afterschool Alliance has tools and templates to maintain momentum going into the 119th Congress. It is also still a good time to reach out to Congress about the importance of federal support for afterschool and summer as the fiscal year 2025 spending process remains unfinished. Look for an appropriations update blog soon! Also top of mind is the state and local landscape and continuing the momentum at the state level for additional funding for afterschool and summer learning – a blog focusing on that area is also coming soon. We look forward to continuing to work with you at all levels on behalf of the children, young people and families who rely on quality afterschool and summer learning programs.