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Mammoth spending bill includes support for afterschool, summer, mentoring, and more

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Mammoth spending bill includes support for afterschool, summer, mentoring, and more

In December, the 117th Congress approved a $1.7 trillion bill that included a $40 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative and additional increases across the US Department of Education important to afterschool programs, public schools, and the people and programs that support them nationwide.  The bill also included hundreds of Congressionally Directed Spending Items—items that were requested by Members of Congress based on feedback from their communities. Years ago, such requests were called “earmarks,” but the process and parameters for such requests have narrowed. Plus, the term itself carries some negative connotations due to past abuses.

The good news for afterschool? Dozens of items will fund afterschool, mentoring, STEM education and others local interests. For example, a number of Boys and Girls Clubs across the country will receive funds for afterschool and summer programs. Clubs in Denver, Atlanta and Benton Harbor, Michigan are among them. The Long Beach (NY) Latino Civic Association is receiving funds for student support, mentoring and enrichment activities. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago will support STEAM learning activities with the funds it’s receiving. The United Way of Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, PA, will have money to invest in wraparound services and academic supports for its local students, including pre-K tuition stipends. The bill will invest in STEM education and an agricultural science magnet school pathway in Albuquerque’s (NM) Public Schools. The Mississippi Children’s Museum will be supporting afterschool programming. There are millions of dollars being invested in afterschool, informal learning, summer programs, mentoring and other issues—millions of dollars that will benefit the field.

Below you will find two charts that detail the requests from Members of the House and Senators that support the field. See if any funds are coming to your community!

Congressionally Directed Spending Items in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education portion of the FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill that focus on afterschool, youth engagement, social and emotional learning (SEL), summer learning, STEM, STEAM, literacy, and other issues of interest to the afterschool community.

The chart below includes the awarding agency, the account the funds are awarded from, a brief description of the work, the amount appropriated for the work, and the Member of the House who requested the directed spending. (Projects requested by Senators are below.)

Afterschool and summer projects – House / Senate

Tutoring, Mentoring, Enrichment – House / Senate

Early Childhood – House / Senate

Literacy – House / Senate

Social and Emotional Learning – House / Senate

Student Mental Health – House / Senate

STEM/STEAM – House / Senate

Wraparound Supports – House / Senate

Youth Engagement – House / Senate

Youth Workforce Development – House / Senate

Juvenile Justice – Senate

State

Agency

Account

Project

Amount

Member of Congress Requesting Funds

 

Afterschool/Summer Learning

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Big Thought, Dallas, TX for out-of-school learning, digital credentialing, and learning systems

$1,000,000

Allred

CO

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, CO for afterschool and summer programming 

 

$549,374

Perlmutter

CO

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, CO for afterschool programs

 

$1,212,062

Crow

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Cameron Community Ministries, Rochester, NY for afterschool and summer enrichment 

 

$200,000

 

Morelle

IN

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

City of Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation, Indianapolis, IN for an afterschool physical education enrichment program

 

$1,000,000

Carson

IN

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

City of Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation, Indianapolis, IN for arts and environmental education access in afterschool and summer learning settings

$1,000,000

 

Carson

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

City School District of New Rochelle, NY for afterschool programs and summer learning

$2,000,000

Bowman

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

El Paso Independent School District, El Paso, TX for afterschool enrichment and STEAM education

$2,000,000

Escobar

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Flint Institute of Science and History, Flint, MI for afterschool programs

$ 1,905,421

Kildee

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Empowering Success Now, Fontana, CA for afterschool and tutoring programs

$532,500

Torres (CA)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Hispanic Counseling Center, Hempstead, NY for afterschool programming

$128,468

Rice (NY)

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, Worcester, MA for a summer learning program

$416,275

McGovern

RI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Providence After School Alliance, Providence, RI for a summer learning STEAM program

$350,000

Cicilline

TN

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Soulsville Foundation, Memphis, TN for an afterschool music education program

$1,150,000

Cohen

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Bridge Teen Center, Orland Park, IL for afterschool programs

$500,000

Newman

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Brotherhood Sister Sol, New York, NY for afterschool programs

$1,000,000

Espaillat

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Garage Community and Youth Center, Avondale, PA for afterschool youth development programs, including a vehicle

$100,000

Houlahan

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Regents of the University of California; University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA for summer math academies

$1,125,360

Vargas

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Watts Labor Community Action Committee, Los Angeles, CA for afterschool programming and arts education

$922,000

Barragan

TN

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Cordova, TN for educational programs before and after school

$1,000,000

Cohen

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, IL for afterschool programs

$666,366

Underwood

 

Tutoring, Mentoring, and Enrichment

VA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

An Achievable Dream, Newport News, VA for student enrichment and academic support

$1,594,355

Scott (VA)

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, Irving, TX for a youth mentoring program

$250,000

Nehls

NJ

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, Newark, NJ for mentoring and student support

$1,000,000

Watson Coleman

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, MA for student mentoring and enrichment

$250,000

Pressley

GA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, Chamblee, GA for academic enrichment and tutoring

$400,861

Bourdeaux

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, Benton Harbor, MI for educational, mentoring, and tutoring program

$1,500,000

Upton

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Black Spectrum Theatre Co., Jamaica, NY for an African American history program

$1,275,000

Meeks

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, Brooklyn, NY for academic enrichment programs

$1,025,000

Velazquez

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, New York, NY for historical curricula and enrichment programs

 

$809,092

Espaillat

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Foundation Communities, Austin, TX for learning center programs, including enrichment and literacy support

$1,107,925

Doggett

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Long Beach Latino Civic Association, Long Beach, NY for student support, mentoring, and enrichment

$50,000

Rice (NY)

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Optimist Boys’ Home & Ranch, Inc. dba Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services, Los Angeles, CA for a tutoring program

$270,000

Garcia (CA)

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Orlando, FL for student enrichment through dragon boating

$100,000

Demings

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Roosevelt Union Free School District, Roosevelt, NY for homework and tutoring support

$525,000

Rice (NY)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Stars of New York Dance, Brooklyn, NY for arts education enrichment programs, including student scholarships

$500,000

Jeffries

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Waukegan to College, Waukegan, IL for mentoring, tutoring, and academic advising programs

$315,000

Schneider

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

YMCA of Greater New York, NY for youth support and enrichment programs

$1,000,000

Meeks

 

Early Childhood Learning

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Drew Child Development Corporation, Lynwood, CA for an early childhood education program, including installation of an outdoor science lab and learning space

$143,000

Barragan

VA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Fairfax County, VA for early childhood development and learning

$1,500,000

Connolly, Wexton

IN

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis, IN for early childhood education programs, including furniture, minor repairs, and classroom upgrades

$500,000

Carson

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Long Beach Day Nursery, Long Beach, CA for early childhood learning

$250,000

Lowenthal

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

New York Hall of Science, Corona, NY for science programming for preschool students, including exhibits

$750,000

Ocasio-Cortez

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Open Door Preschools, Austin, TX for preschool programs, including outdoor learning spaces, and wraparound supports for at-risk families

$824,900

Doggett

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, CA for early childhood education

$1,000,000

Ruiz

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

South City Foundation, Tallahassee, FL for an early childhood education program, including technology upgrades

$2,000,000

Lawson (FL)

 

Literacy

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Dearborn Heights Libraries, Dearborn Heights, MI for student mobile library services, including a vehicle

$206,000

Tlaib

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio, TX for student literacy programs and access to culturally relevant texts

$102,250

Castro (TX)

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Harris County Public Library, Houston, TX for student access to texts, including equipment

$139,212

Fletcher

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Houston Public Library, Houston, TX for digital literacy resources

$2,000,347

Fletcher

WI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI for child literacy programs

$241,250

Moore (WI)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY for a literacy program 

 

$191,160

Clarke (NY)

OH

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Toledo Tomorrow, Toledo, OH for an early childhood reading program

$1,050,000

Kaptur

MS

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

University of Mississippi, University, MS for a professional development program and writing initiative

$1,000,000

Kelly (MS)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Start Lighthouse, New York, NY for literacy and learning spaces in schools

$205,500

Ocasio-Cortez

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

**Cambodia Town, Long Beach, CA for language access programs

$56,950

Lowenthal

MP

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

**Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System, Saipan, MP for language immersion curriculum and programming

$311,939

Sablan

 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Abyssinian Development Corporation, New York, NY for SEL programming and professional development

$1,000,000

Espaillat

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, NY for SEL programs

$3,000,000

Rice (NY)

MD

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Best Buddies International, Baltimore, MD for school-based programs that promote inclusion

$100,000

Hoyer

MD

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Best Buddies International, Baltimore, MD for school-based programs that promote inclusion

$100,000

Sarbanes

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Pace Center for Girls, Jacksonville, FL for student support programs, including SEL resources and technology

$500,000

Lawson (FL)

 

Student Mental and Behavioral Health

MO

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, St. Louis, MO for student mental health and anti-violence programs

$70,000

Bush

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Glen Ellyn School District 41, Glen Ellyn, IL for school-based mental health services for students and families

$250,000

Casten

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA for school-based behavioral health training and supports

$524,972

Jacobs (CA)

 

STEM/STEAM

NV

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV for STEM and SEL programs

$750,000

Horsford

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Broward County Public Schools, Fort Lauderdale, FL for visual arts and computer science education, including equipment

$525,000

Wasserman Schultz

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Chapman University, Orange, CA for computational clusters, lab infrastructure, and postsecondary research activities

$2,200,000

Correa

GA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Clayton State University, Morrow, GA for environmental studies research, including equipment and technology 

 

$750,000

 

Scott, David

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL for science education and a mobile classroom, including a vehicle

$976,000

Crist

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Food Literacy Center, Sacramento, CA for science and nutrition education, including the development of a student garden

$1,050,000

Matsui

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Dallas, TX for programming to develop skills and competencies in STEM, leadership development, and financial empowerment 

$920,000

Johnson (TX)

HI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Hawaii Agriculture Foundation, Honolulu, HI for STEM programs that incorporate innovative agriculture technologies 

$372,000

Kahele

GA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Henry County Board of Education, McDonough, GA for afterschool enrichment and STEM education

$40,000

Scott, David

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL for STEM education, including teacher stipends

$1,022,000

Quigley

MD

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD for STEM education and professional development

$401,615

Ruppersberger

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

New York Sun Works, New York, NY for a hydroponic farm STEM program, including equipment

$800,000

Torres (NY)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

New York Sun Works, New York, NY for a hydroponic farm STEM program, including equipment

$800,000

Clarke (NY)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

New York Sun Works, New York, NY for a hydroponic farm STEM program, including equipment

$500,000

Jeffries

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Ontario-Montclair School District, Ontario, CA for STEAM programs, including equipment and technology

$272,077

Torres (CA)

MO

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Seed St. Louis, MO for STEM education programs

$380,000

Bush

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL for STEAM education

$595,025

Quigley

OH

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

TECH CORPS, Columbus, OH for computer science education, including equipment

$300,000

Ryan

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Texas State University — Round Rock, Round Rock, TX for a STEM educational and professional development program

$1,000,000

Carter (TX)

LA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The Center for the Innovative Training of Youth STEM NOLA, New Orleans, LA for STEM learning and career readiness programs, including equipment

$2,000,000

Carter (LA)

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Town of Randolph, MA for mobile library and STEM programming, including vehicle and equipment

$524,000

Pressley

CT

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT for K–12 STEM education programs

$1,000,000

Hayes

OH

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Trumbull County Educational Service Center, Niles, OH for STEM education, including equipment and technology

$650,000

Ryan

NE

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

University of Nebraska System, Lincoln, NE for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program

$2,000,000

Bacon

VI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Virgin Islands Department of Education, St. Thomas, VI for electric vehicle classes, career and technical college programs, and STEM education

$2,200,000

Plaskett

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

West Chester University, West Chester, PA for STEM education programs

$715,770

Houlahan

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Van Nuys, CA for STEAM and civics education 

$2,000,000

Cardenas

GA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA for digital skill building programs, including equipment

$1,024,940

Williams (GA)

 

Youth Support/Wraparound Services

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

American Association of Caregiving Youth, Boca Raton, FL for supportive services for caregiving youth

$491,000

Frankel, Lois

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Beasley-Brown Community Development Corporation, San Antonio, TX for community-based learning centers                       

$2,280,000

Cuellar

 

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Birch Family Services, New York, NY for communication systems for nonverbal children and families

$201,096

Ocasio-Cortez

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, CA for developing a digital program for student support

$1,000,000

Lieu

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Catholic Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles, CA for a postsecondary student support program

$500,000

Schiff

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Chinese American Social Services Center, Brooklyn, NY for academic and arts programs, including support for English learners

$105,000

Nadler

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Encompass: Resources for Learning, Rochester, NY for student academic and wraparound services, including transportation

$700,000

Morelle

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Friendship Foundation, Redondo Beach, CA for inclusive programs for students with disabilities

$1,000,000

Lieu

GA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA for educational services for children of military families, including the purchase of equipment

$215,000

Carter (GA)

NC

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC for wraparound services, academic supports, and learning hubs

$2,200,000

Manning

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI for a Holocaust education program, including support for English learners and students with disabilities

$550,000

Stevens

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Houston Independent School District, Houston, TX for family and community engagement programs for students

$1,975,000

Green (TX)

AZ

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates, Phoenix, AZ for targeted student support programs

$167,000

Grijalva

HI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Kula No Na Poe Hawaii, Honolulu, HI for academic supports and wraparound services

$1,800,000

Case

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

LGBT Center of Greater Reading, PA for wraparound services and support for at-risk youth

$113,520

Houlahan

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Pace Center for Girls, Inc., Jacksonville, FL for an educational services, counseling, and training program, including the purchase of equipment and information technology

$500,000

Bilirakis

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Pace Center for Girls, Inc., Jacksonville, FL for curriculum, technology, and training program, including the purchase of information technology and equipment

$500,000

Rutherford

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Pace Center for Girls, Jacksonville, FL for curriculum development and support services

$500,000

Crist

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

United Way of Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, PA for wraparound services and academic supports, including pre-K tuition stipends

$2,200,000

Cartwright

 

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Boys and Girls Club of Pharr, TX for equipment and supplies for youth development services

$1,753,812

Gonzalez, Vicente

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI for a student development program, including the purchase of supplies and student stipends

1,000,000

 

Meijer

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

**Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, PA for a teaching fellows program

$500,000

Evans

 

Youth Engagement

TX

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Austin Independent School District, Austin, TX for outdoor learning experiences, including equipment and furniture for outdoor classrooms and exhibits 

$2,015,750

Doggett

DC

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Washington, DC for youth engagement through arts education, including equipment

$250,000

Norton

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America, New York, NY for a youth scouting program

$50,000

Malliotakis

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

City of Greenacres, FL for youth programs, services, and curricula, including technology

$1,000,000

Frankel, Louis

DC

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

**Dance Institute of Washington, DC for arts education and dance training, including equipment

$1,000,000

Norton

 

Youth Workforce Development/Apprenticeship/Career Pathways

PA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School, Ebensburg, PA for an instructional program, including the purchase of equipment

$1,005,000

Thompson (PA)

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA for an aviation education program

$1,358,000

Keating

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Bristol Community College, Fall River, MA for workforce education access and credit programs

$1,000,000

Keating

MA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Cape Cod Community College, Barnstable, MA for a dental hygiene program

$1,000,000

Keating

MD

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

End Hunger Calvert County, Huntingtown, MD for a pre-apprentice skills program

$300,000

Hoyer

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Freeport Union Free School District, Freeport, NY for a college and career center, including equipment

$173,923

 

Rice (NY)

NY

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Haitian Americans United for Progress, Hollis, NY for youth leadership and youth workforce programming

$364,558

 

Meeks

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa, FL for career and technical education in construction and medical training, including equipment

$1,000,000

Castor (FL)

IA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates, Des Moines, IA for career pathways and counseling supports

$250,000

Krishnamoorthi                           

MI

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

LIFT, Detroit, MI for a manufacturing technician education program

$1,250,000

Lawrence

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School District, Norwalk, CA for career and technical education pathways, dual enrollment programs, and technology 

$2,200,000

Sanchez

CT

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Norwalk Public Schools, Norwalk, CT for marine science pathways

$1,323,660

Himes

OR

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Oregon Institute of Technology, Wilsonville, OR for a healthcare career pathways program

$700,000

Schrader

CA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA for CTE pathways to certificate and degree programs

$2,000,000

Correa

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

School District of Osceola County, FL for a youth entrepreneurship program, including support for student internships, a vehicle, and capital for student businesses

$953,000

Soto

FL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Seminole County Public Schools, Sanford, FL for high school health careers programs, including medical equipment

$526,692

Murphy (FL)

IL

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Southland Career and Technical Education Center, Matteson, IL for classroom design and curricula for career and technical education programs

$1,740,000

Kelly (IL)

OR

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, OR for a career and technical cosmetology program, including equipment

$385,000

DeFazio

MO

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

St. Louis Public Schools, St. Louis, MO for CTE programs in construction trades, including scholarships for technical college programs 

$252,713

Bush

WA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

Tacoma Public School District, Tacoma, WA for career preparation and internship programs

$555,000

Strickland

WV

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

The West Virginia Chamber Foundation Corporation, Charleston, WV for a drop-out prevention and school-to-work transition program

$ 200,000

Miller (WV)

WA

Department of Education

Elementary and Secondary Education

University of Washington Bothell, WA for pathways toward environment and sustainability degree programs, including equipment 

 

$811,061

DelBene

 

Congressionally Directed Spending Projects in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education portion of the FY 2023 spending bill requested by Senators of the 117th Congress.

 

Agency

Account

Project

Amount

Senator Requesting Funds

 

Afterschool/Summer Learning

NY

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Avenue Blackbox Theatre Inc. dba the Field, NY, for after, out of school and summer programs, including purchase of technology and equipment.

$750,000

Schumer

NY

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

EnCompass: Resources for Learning, Inc., NY, for educational programming, including afterschool, summer learning, and college readiness

$700,000

Gillibrand, Schumer

VT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, VT, for an arts education and enrichment summer program.

$304,000

Sanders

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Hartford Stage, CT, for arts-based summer education programming

$100,000

Blumenthal

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Institute of Music for Children, NJ, for the Summer Arts Institute

$75,000

Booker

CA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Leaven Kids, Inc., CA, for equipment and technology, and vehicles for afterschool programming.

$147,000

Feinstein, Padilla

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Mississippi Children’s Museum—Meridian, MS, for afterschool programming

$150,000

Hyde-Smith

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Mississippi Children’s Museum, MS, for afterschool programming

$225,000

Hyde-Smith

WA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

North Beach School District #64, WA, for before and after school programs

$758,000

Murray

HI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Parents and Children Together, HI, for afterschool and out-of-school-time education programs.

$550,000

Hirono

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Providence After School Alliance, RI, for summer STEAM learning and enrichment program.

$350,000

Whitehouse

WV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Save the Children Federation, Inc., WV, for afterschool and early learning education programs.

$250,000

Capito, Manchin

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

SoundWaters, Inc., CT, for afterschool and extracurricular programming, including purchase of equipment

$361,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

WA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Tacoma Public Schools, WA, for afterschool education and enrichment

$648,000

Cantwell

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

The Empowerment Factory, RI, for out of school time programs

$50,000

Reed

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

The Salvation Army, NJ, for afterschool program, including purchase of technology

$32,000

Booker

VT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Windham Central Supervisory Union, VT, for summer and afterschool programs

$100,000

Sanders

 

Tutoring, Mentoring, and Enrichment

HI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, HI, for youth mentoring

$800,000

Schatz

VA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

George Mason University, VA, to recruit and train college students for tutoring of elementary and secondary school students.

$1,950,000

Kaine, Warner

ME

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Helping Hands with Heart/Maine Highlands, ME, for a youth mentoring initiative, including the purchase of equipment.

$426,000

King

VT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, VT, for youth development and enrichment, including the purchase of equipment.

$60,000

Sanders

SC

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Restoration Project Foundation, SC, for expansion of a mentoring program, including curriculum development.

$650,000

Graham

NH

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

United Way of Greater Nashua, NH, for tutoring program, including purchase of equipment.

$100,000

Shaheen

 

Early Childhood

HI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Aha Punana Leo (APL), HI, for the Punana Leo statewide Hawaiian medium early childhood language education system, including reaccreditation by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium

$1,126,000

Hirono, Schatz

MN

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Boys & Girls Club of Detroit Lakes, Inc., MN, for early childhood education

$300,000

Klobuchar, Smith

MN

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Morris Area Child Care Center, MN, for equipment for early childhood and afterschool education programs.

$18,000

Klobuchar, Smith

NM

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

New Mexico State University Glass Family Research, NM, for early childhood education, including purchase of equipment.

$200,000

Heinrich, Lujan

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Newark School of the Arts, NJ, for the Early Childhood Music and Movement program

$50,000

Booker

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

United Way of Northern New Jersey, NJ, to improve early learning

$500,000

Booker, Menendez

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

University of Mississippi, MS, for an early childhood education program, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$1,360,000

Hyde-Smith, Wicker

 

Literacy

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Bridgeport Board of Education, CT, for in-person and virtual library programs, including purchase of books, materials and virtual library resources.

$2,000,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

 

NM

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Children’s Reading Alliance, NM, for school readiness, including early literacy training in home and child care settings

$120,000

Heinrich, Lujan

NY

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Literacy Inc. (LINC), NY, to expand early literacy programs, including through familybased services.   

$800,000

Gillibrand, Schumer

MN

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Morrison County United Way, MN, for school readiness through the Imagination Library program.

$14,000

Klobuchar, Smith

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

New Haven Reads Community Book Bank, CT, for Structured Literacy programming

$150,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Reading is Fundamental, DC, for a literacy program in Mississippi, including the purchase of technology.

$750,000

Wicker

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Rhode Island Center for the Book, RI, for a community literacy initiative

$15,000

Reed

WA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Save the Children Lower Yakima Valley, WA, to reduce food insecurity and increase child literacy, which may include vehicle purchase, use, and maintenance, and equipment.

$891,000

Cantwell

PA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

United Way of Venango County, PA, for early childhood literacy, including purchase of books for the Imagination Library

15,000

Casey

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

University of Mississippi, MS, for a program to improve reading skills, including stipends for tutors.

$750,000

Hyde-Smith

 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

PA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Mikayla’s Voice, PA, for social-emotional learning and inclusion programs

$250,000

Casey

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership, CT, for social-emotional learning initiative within Bridgeport Public Schools.

$125,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

 

Student Mental and Behavioral Health

IL

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Board of Education of the City of Chicago, IL, for promoting student health activities and improving access to student health services

$750,000

Dubin

NV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Washoe County School District, NV, for student mental health support and services

$1,535,000

Cortez-Masto, Rosen

 

STEM/STEAM

NM

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Albuquerque Public Schools, NM, for STEM education and agricultural science magnet school pathway, including purchase of equipment.

$275,000

Lujan

PA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, PA, for STEM education and outdoor learning, including purchase of equipment, technology and supplies

$710,000

Casey

HI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Consortium for Hawaii Ecological Engineering Education dba Ma¯ lama A ? ina Foundation, HI, for culturally-integrated, agricultural-related STEM education, including purchase of equipment and supplies

$765,000

Hirono

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Delta State University, MS, for professional development in STEM education, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$1,000,000

Hyde-Smith, Wicker

ME

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Educate Maine, ME, for a mobile science lab, including the purchase of equipment and curriculum development.

$1,000,000

Collins, King

MD

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

I am Mentality, Inc., MD, for STEM-related educational programming, including the purchase of equipment.

$2,000,000

Van Hollen

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Piney Woods School, MS, for a STEAM program, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$350,000

Wicker

OK

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Rose State College, OK, for STEM education, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$96,000

Inhofe

MI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

St. Clair County Community College, MI, for purchase of STEM education equipment for interactive STEM learning experiences.

$955,000

Peters

OH

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

TECH CORPS, OH, for purchase of technology and equipment for STEM education

$140,000

Brown

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, MS, for the purchase of equipment

$100,000

Hyde-Smith

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

University of Southern Mississippi, MS, for STEM education, including the purchase of technology and supplies.

$1,500,000

Hyde-Smith

WA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

West Sound STEM Network/SK School District, WA, to improve the capacity of education systems and communities to provide STEM educational experiences aligned with highdemand, regional employment sectors

$1,077,000

Cantwell

 

Youth Support/Wraparound Services

MD

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Asian American Center of Frederick, MD, for school readiness, including the purchase of equipment.

$375,000

Cardin, Van Hollen

NH

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**Best Buddies International, Inc., NH, for the New Hampshire Inclusion Project for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

$250,000

Shaheen

PA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, PA, for the Teen Outreach program

$1,500,000

Casey

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**Canopy Children’s Solutions, MS, for educational programming, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$524,000

Hyde-Smith

LA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Communities In Schools Gulf South, Inc., LA, for comprehensive student supports aimed at dropout prevention.

$1,000,000

Cassidy

VA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Communities in Schools of Virginia, VA, for a statewide initiative on student re-engagement and to address chronic absenteeism

$977,000

Kaine, Warner

LA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Foundation for the Art and Science of Learning, LA, for a dropout prevention program, including the purchase of technology

$580,000

Cassidy

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Hartford Public Library, CT, for educational programs for immigrant, refugee and English learner students.

$305,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

GA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe, East of the Mississippi, GA, for Mvskoke Punvkv (Muskogee Language) instruction for students of the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe.

$100,000

Ossoff

LA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Louisiana Board of Regents, LA, for curriculum development

$1,000,000

Cassidy

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, MS, for a learning recovery project

$500,000

Hyde-Smith

NM

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project, NM, for in-school and out-ofschool youth development programming.

$361,000

Heinrich

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Reclaimed Project, MS, for student success programming, including the purchase of equipment and technology.

$185,000

Hyde-Smith

NV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Washoe County School District, NV, to prevent school drop-out and reduce chronic absenteeism.

$1,024,000

Cortez-Masto, Rosen

 

Youth Engagement

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, NJ, for educational and leadership programs, including purchase of technology and equipment.

$500,000

Booker

VT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Harwood Union High School, VT, for national and international travel study program

$134,000

Sanders

HI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Kumano I Ke Ala o Makaweli, HI, for education and outdoor education programs in natural resource management, traditional Hawaiian language and agriculture, and food production, including the purchase of vehicles, machinery and equipment.

$796,000

Hirono, Schatz

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Stages of Freedom, RI, for youth development and physical education

$200,000

Reed

CA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**The Friendship Foundation, CA, for the Inclusive School Friendship Club, including purchase of equipment.

$380,00

Feinstein

PA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth, PA, for a school garden to support educational programming.

$32,000

Casey

GA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, GA, to improve student outcomes through a community schools approach.

$288,000

Warnock

NY

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**Universal Hip Hop Museum, NY, For educational programming, including purchase of equipment.

$2,000,000

Schumer

WV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, WV, for educational programs, including interactive displays, exhibits, and curriculum

$111,000

Capito, Manchin

NJ

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJ, for arts education programs

$700,000

Booker

WV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, WV, for educational programs, including interactive displays, exhibits, and curriculum.

$111,000

Capito, Manchin

 

Youth Workforce Development/Apprenticeship/Career Pathways

KS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

CAPS Network, Inc., KS, for profession-based learning, including the purchase of technology

$951,000

Moran

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Center for Dynamic Learning, RI, for career readiness and training

$100,000

Reed

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

East Hartford Public Schools, CT, for the Manufacturing Academy and Internship program, including purchase of equipment.

$730,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

OR

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

La Grande School District, OR, to operate housing construction and construction trades CTE programs, including equipment and supplies.

$515,000

Merkley, Wyden

NM

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

May Center for Learning, NM, for professional development and coaching for reading specialists

$200,000

Heinrich

MS

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Mississippi School of the Arts, MS, for a dual enrollment program, including tuition assistance

$500,000

Hyde-Smith

CT

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

NAFI Connecticut, Inc., CT, for career readiness initiative

$218,000

Blumenthal, Murphy

NV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Nye County School District, NV, for work-based learning

$152,000

Cortez Masten, Rosen

OR

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Scappoose Rural Fire District, OR, for career pathway programs in public safety, firefighting, and natural resources, including purchase of equipment.

$198,000

Merkley, Wyden

WV

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

**Shepherd University, WV, for a teacher professional development program, including stipends

$657,000

Capito, Manchin

ME

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Side x Side Inc., ME, to develop and implement professional development on arts integration.

$242,000

King

VA

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Source for Learning, Inc., VA, to expand online professional development for early childhood educators.

$352,000

Kaine, Warner

MD

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Transforming Lives CDC, MD, for college readiness programming, including support for paid work experiences

$195,000

Cardin, Van Hollen

ME

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

University of Maine System, ME, for a dual enrollment program

$464,000

Collins

 

Juvenile Justice

RI

Department of Education

Innovation and Improvement

Rhode Island for Community and Justice (RICJ), RI, for programming and support for youth involved with the corrections system.

300,000

Whitehouse

 

 

Federal appropriations update: Are we headed for a shutdown?

Congress is back in session after its annual August recess, and at the top of their to-do list is addressing spending for the fiscal year that begins October 1. As we touched on last month, lawmakers are staring down a fast-approaching deadline for action on FY 2024 spending. It is clear that...

BY: Erik Peterson      09/15/23

New Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Opportunity Makes Space for Afterschool Partnerships

Applications for $25 Million in new awards through the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Program through the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education are now open to educational entities such as school districts and institutes of higher education. Additional partnerships are prioritized,...

BY: Jillian Luchner      09/08/23

Back to school means back to D.C. for Congress. What’s ahead in September?

The slower pace of August in Washington, D.C., is nearing its end. The imminent return of the U.S. Congress to Capitol Hill and the people’s business suggests the need for revisiting what lawmakers did before the August recess and what faces them in September. As students and teachers go back...

BY: Erik Peterson      08/25/23

OST college preparation programs close opportunity gaps for students of color

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court ended the use of race-based admission policies at higher education institutions. As an advocate for equitable education and a current college student who comes from a background that would qualify me to be a beneficiary of affirmative action, I am...

BY: Mazzi Ingram      08/22/23

Child care proposed rule seeking comments on making CCDF more affordable and accessible

Update – The Afterschool Alliance has drafted comments on this notice that can be reviewed here. On June 22, the Office of Child Care posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Regulations. Comments on the proposed rule are open through August...

BY: Jillian Luchner      07/28/23

Senate Afterschool Caucus briefing highlights the impact of afterschool and summer programs

On Wednesday, July 12, the Senate Afterschool Caucus, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance and the National Summer Learning Association, held a briefing on how the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is making a positive difference for youth, families, and...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/18/23

House Appropriators mark-up FY 2024 Education spending bill

This week, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee pushed the FY 2024 appropriations process forward by holding multiple subcommittee mark-ups. On Friday, July 14, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/14/23

Congress passes deal to raise debt limit and constrain spending

UPDATE: June 2, 2023: Late on the night of June 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 63-36, about 24 hours after the House passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 314-117. The President is expected to sign the bill into law today. On May 31, the House passed the...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/01/23

Your feedback needed on 21st Century Community Learning Center draft non-regulatory guidance

UPDATE: The deadline has been extended from June 16th to July 7th. The U.S. Department of Education is accepting feedback through June 16, 2023, on Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Draft Non-Regulatory Guidance PDF. This represents the first time in 20 years that...

BY: Erik Peterson      05/22/23

Trio of newly introduced bills align with recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

While Congress and the White House struggle with raising the debt ceiling and getting the appropriations process back on track, legislation continues to be introduced in both the House and Senate. Beginning in late April, a trio of bills have been introduced that provide critical supports for...

BY: Erik Peterson      05/11/23

Federal appropriations update: Are we headed for a shutdown?

Congress is back in session after its annual August recess, and at the top of their to-do list is addressing spending for the fiscal year that begins October 1. As we touched on last month, lawmakers are staring down a fast-approaching deadline for action on FY 2024 spending. It is clear that...

BY: Erik Peterson      09/15/23

Summer is ending! What is the status of appropriations for STEM education on Capitol Hill?

As is the case each August, Congress has left Washington D.C., for several weeks. The month’s slower pace gives STEM, education and afterschool advocates an opportunity to digest what happened in the frantic days before the recess and assess what remains to be done in 2023. The annual...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      08/28/23

Back to school means back to D.C. for Congress. What’s ahead in September?

The slower pace of August in Washington, D.C., is nearing its end. The imminent return of the U.S. Congress to Capitol Hill and the people’s business suggests the need for revisiting what lawmakers did before the August recess and what faces them in September. As students and teachers go back...

BY: Erik Peterson      08/25/23

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on July 27, 2023. The bill proposes $224.4 billion in total funding for Fiscal Year 2024. The Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/31/23

Senate Afterschool Caucus briefing highlights the impact of afterschool and summer programs

On Wednesday, July 12, the Senate Afterschool Caucus, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance and the National Summer Learning Association, held a briefing on how the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is making a positive difference for youth, families, and...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/18/23

House Appropriators mark-up FY 2024 Education spending bill

This week, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee pushed the FY 2024 appropriations process forward by holding multiple subcommittee mark-ups. On Friday, July 14, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/14/23

Senate HELP hearing on mental health

On June 8, 2023, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) hosted a hearing titled, "Why Are So Many American Youth in a Mental Health Crisis? Exploring Causes and Solutions.” The hearing featured two panels of expert witnesses convened to discuss the rising...

BY: Mazzi Ingram      06/20/23

Congress passes deal to raise debt limit and constrain spending

UPDATE: June 2, 2023: Late on the night of June 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 63-36, about 24 hours after the House passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 314-117. The President is expected to sign the bill into law today. On May 31, the House passed the...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/01/23

Trio of newly introduced bills align with recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

While Congress and the White House struggle with raising the debt ceiling and getting the appropriations process back on track, legislation continues to be introduced in both the House and Senate. Beginning in late April, a trio of bills have been introduced that provide critical supports for...

BY: Erik Peterson      05/11/23

Secretary Cardona makes the case for robust education spending at House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing

The FY 2024 appropriations process continues in the House this month, with agency heads testifying on the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. On Tuesday, April 18, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a budget...

BY: Erik Peterson      04/21/23

Office of Child Care inquiring what should be included in State Child Care Development Fund plans

Update – The Afterschool Alliance has drafted comments on this notice that can be reviewed here. The three-year cycle for State Plans for Child Care and Development funds is upon us, and the federal government is now providing an opportunity to comment on the form states must fill out to...

BY: Jillian Luchner      08/08/23

Empowering youth voices: Reflecting on the 2023 Youth Policy Forum

By Keem Anderson, associate director at Ignite Afterschool (MN). At Ignite Afterschool, Minnesota’s statewide afterschool network, we recently had the privilege of hosting our 2023 Youth Policy Forum, an event dedicated to amplifying youth voice, advocating for impactful policies that...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/07/23

2023 state budgets bring new investments in afterschool programs

The end of state legislative sessions have now come to a close in most states, and with this closure comes news of new states establishing afterschool funding streams or expanding existing ones in their state budgets. This year, four new states have joined a growing list of states that support...

BY: Chris Neitzey      07/11/23

Mental health and wellness a popular topic in state legislatures in 2023

Last year, as states grappled with ways to reengage students as the recovery from the pandemic set in, student mental health came to the forefront in many state legislatures. In Georgia last year, the state legislature passed HB1013, the Mental Health Parity Act, to address mental health...

BY: Chris Neitzey      05/11/23

State legislatures looking to increase investments in afterschool

We took at look at how governors across the country are supporting afterschool in a previous post, but what kind of progress is being made in state legislatures for afterschool? It turns out, quite a bit. Below is a sampling of the different bills that have been introduced in state legislatures...

BY: Chris Neitzey      03/24/23

Governors for afterschool – 2023 edition

Last year, governors from across the country highlighted the vital role afterschool programs play in their State of the State speeches and budget proposals. Some of these efforts led to new funding streams for afterschool, as in in Alabama and Michigan; expansion of funding in states like...

BY: Chris Neitzey      03/07/23

Statewide afterschool networks continue to advance STEM as a policy priority at the state level

The Afterschool Alliance and STEM Education Coalition enter our seventh year of a project to support the development and advancement of STEM learning at the state level, in partnership with the Statewide Afterschool Networks and funded by the Overdeck Family Foundation. This year’s cohort...

BY: Chris Neitzey      02/14/23

D.C. Mayor Bowser pledges to build robust afterschool programs in inaugural address

Photo by Andra C Taylor Jr on Unsplash Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) was sworn in for her third term on January 2, 2023. In her inaugural address, Mayor Bowser pledged to “build the most robust free before- and after-school programs in the nation” in her next term....

BY: Chris Neitzey      01/06/23

State elections bring new faces to governors mansions

After a full week of counting ballots, the picture at the state level has become clear. A handful of Governor’s races resulted in Democratic gains, with Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts all electing Democrats. Incumbent Governors were reelected in 27 out of 28 races, with only Democrat...

BY: Chris Neitzey      11/18/22

ARP investments in comprehensive afterschool: Connecticut case-study

By Mahika Gupta and Alexa Kamen, the Afterschool Alliance’s inaugural Summer Policy Interns. Mahika is entering her Senior year at Colby College in Maine, working on degrees in English Creative Writing and Astrophysics and participating as a staff writer for her college paper. Alexa...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/05/22

Federal appropriations update: Are we headed for a shutdown?

Congress is back in session after its annual August recess, and at the top of their to-do list is addressing spending for the fiscal year that begins October 1. As we touched on last month, lawmakers are staring down a fast-approaching deadline for action on FY 2024 spending. It is clear that...

BY: Erik Peterson      09/15/23

Summer is ending! What is the status of appropriations for STEM education on Capitol Hill?

As is the case each August, Congress has left Washington D.C., for several weeks. The month’s slower pace gives STEM, education and afterschool advocates an opportunity to digest what happened in the frantic days before the recess and assess what remains to be done in 2023. The annual...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      08/28/23

Back to school means back to D.C. for Congress. What’s ahead in September?

The slower pace of August in Washington, D.C., is nearing its end. The imminent return of the U.S. Congress to Capitol Hill and the people’s business suggests the need for revisiting what lawmakers did before the August recess and what faces them in September. As students and teachers go back...

BY: Erik Peterson      08/25/23

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on July 27, 2023. The bill proposes $224.4 billion in total funding for Fiscal Year 2024. The Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/31/23

House Appropriators mark-up FY 2024 Education spending bill

This week, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee pushed the FY 2024 appropriations process forward by holding multiple subcommittee mark-ups. On Friday, July 14, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/14/23

Congress passes deal to raise debt limit and constrain spending

UPDATE: June 2, 2023: Late on the night of June 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 63-36, about 24 hours after the House passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 314-117. The President is expected to sign the bill into law today. On May 31, the House passed the...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/01/23

Making the case for increasing 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding

On March 23, Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance Co-director Felicia Simpson testified at a hearing of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-E) Appropriations Subcommittee in support of increased funding for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning...

BY: Erik Peterson      03/27/23

FY 2024 budget proposal is disappointing for 21st CCLC, but includes other afterschool related increases

Today the Biden administration released its FY 2024 discretionary budget request, formally kicking of the FY2024 appropriations process, while debate around raising the debt ceiling continues. With regard to afterschool and summer learning support, the proposal requests $1,329,673 for the Nita M....

BY: Erik Peterson      03/09/23

March madness = Budget & appropriations process kickoff!

This year, early March means the release of the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year and the beginning of the FY 2024 appropriations process in Congress. Here's what we know so far about how this year’s process may roll out in the coming year.  On or...

BY: Erik Peterson      03/01/23

Mammoth spending bill includes support for afterschool, summer, mentoring, and more

In December, the 117th Congress approved a $1.7 trillion bill that included a $40 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative and additional increases across the US Department of Education important to afterschool programs, public schools,...

BY: Erik Peterson      01/23/23

Summer is ending! What is the status of appropriations for STEM education on Capitol Hill?

As is the case each August, Congress has left Washington D.C., for several weeks. The month’s slower pace gives STEM, education and afterschool advocates an opportunity to digest what happened in the frantic days before the recess and assess what remains to be done in 2023. The annual...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      08/28/23

Back to school means back to D.C. for Congress. What’s ahead in September?

The slower pace of August in Washington, D.C., is nearing its end. The imminent return of the U.S. Congress to Capitol Hill and the people’s business suggests the need for revisiting what lawmakers did before the August recess and what faces them in September. As students and teachers go back...

BY: Erik Peterson      08/25/23

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on July 27, 2023. The bill proposes $224.4 billion in total funding for Fiscal Year 2024. The Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/31/23

House Appropriators mark-up FY 2024 Education spending bill

This week, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee pushed the FY 2024 appropriations process forward by holding multiple subcommittee mark-ups. On Friday, July 14, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/14/23

Congress passes deal to raise debt limit and constrain spending

UPDATE: June 2, 2023: Late on the night of June 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 63-36, about 24 hours after the House passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 314-117. The President is expected to sign the bill into law today. On May 31, the House passed the...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/01/23

March madness = Budget & appropriations process kickoff!

This year, early March means the release of the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year and the beginning of the FY 2024 appropriations process in Congress. Here's what we know so far about how this year’s process may roll out in the coming year.  On or...

BY: Erik Peterson      03/01/23

STEM education update: Good news and looking ahead

In the final weeks of 2022, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund every agency through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2023. The bill was the product of weeks of negotiations and defense spending, supporting the CHIPS and Science Act and some policy issues attached to the bill took...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      02/23/23

Mammoth spending bill includes support for afterschool, summer, mentoring, and more

In December, the 117th Congress approved a $1.7 trillion bill that included a $40 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative and additional increases across the US Department of Education important to afterschool programs, public schools,...

BY: Erik Peterson      01/23/23

Opportunity: CCDF supplemental funds available for school-age programs

Now and over the next year, states are focusing on spending “child care CCDF supplemental funds” that must be obligated by 2023 and liquidated in 2024. State administrative agencies of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF, also known as CCDBG) recently faced three concurrent...

BY: Jillian Luchner      10/25/22

ARP investments in comprehensive afterschool: Kentucky case-study

By Mahika Gupta and Alexa Kamen, the Afterschool Alliance’s inaugural Summer Policy Interns. Mahika is entering her Senior year at Colby College in Maine, working on degrees in English Creative Writing and Astrophysics and participating as a staff writer for her college paper. Alexa...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/18/22

Federal appropriations update: Are we headed for a shutdown?

Congress is back in session after its annual August recess, and at the top of their to-do list is addressing spending for the fiscal year that begins October 1. As we touched on last month, lawmakers are staring down a fast-approaching deadline for action on FY 2024 spending. It is clear that...

BY: Erik Peterson      09/15/23

Summer is ending! What is the status of appropriations for STEM education on Capitol Hill?

As is the case each August, Congress has left Washington D.C., for several weeks. The month’s slower pace gives STEM, education and afterschool advocates an opportunity to digest what happened in the frantic days before the recess and assess what remains to be done in 2023. The annual...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      08/28/23

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2024

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on July 27, 2023. The bill proposes $224.4 billion in total funding for Fiscal Year 2024. The Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Initiative...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/31/23

ED extends time for comments on 21st CCLC Draft Non-Regulatory Guidance

Afterschool providers and allies now have until July 7 to comment on the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Draft Non-Regulatory Guidance. We are grateful to the Department of Education for recognizing the significance of this updated guidance and providing additional time for feedback....

BY: Jillian Luchner      06/22/23

Congress passes deal to raise debt limit and constrain spending

UPDATE: June 2, 2023: Late on the night of June 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act by a vote of 63-36, about 24 hours after the House passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 314-117. The President is expected to sign the bill into law today. On May 31, the House passed the...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/01/23

Your feedback needed on 21st Century Community Learning Center draft non-regulatory guidance

UPDATE: The deadline has been extended from June 16th to July 7th. The U.S. Department of Education is accepting feedback through June 16, 2023, on Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Draft Non-Regulatory Guidance PDF. This represents the first time in 20 years that...

BY: Erik Peterson      05/22/23

Making the case for increasing 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding

On March 23, Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance Co-director Felicia Simpson testified at a hearing of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-E) Appropriations Subcommittee in support of increased funding for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning...

BY: Erik Peterson      03/27/23

Mammoth spending bill includes support for afterschool, summer, mentoring, and more

In December, the 117th Congress approved a $1.7 trillion bill that included a $40 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative and additional increases across the US Department of Education important to afterschool programs, public schools,...

BY: Erik Peterson      01/23/23

Previewing the 118th Congress: What does it mean for afterschool?

With 2022 in the rearview mirror, we can also say farewell to the 117th Congress. The new Congress marks a return to ‘divided government’ with the White House and Senate being led by Democrats and the House of Representatives under the control of the Republican Party. What might the...

BY: Erik Peterson      01/09/23

$50M in 21st CCLC funds from Bipartisan Safer Communities Act sent to states

This summer, a group of 20 Democratic and Republican Senators, led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), worked to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included gun safety measures, mental health support investments, and school safety provisions that aim to...

BY: Erik Peterson      11/03/22

Beyond relief – New tools to help sustain the impactful pandemic investments in afterschool and summer

Children’s Funding Project, in collaboration with Grantmakers for Education and our team at the Afterschool Alliance released an important new tool for the field, “Funding Out-Of-School Time Programs – Now and in the Future.” Recognizing that COVID-19 education and child...

BY: Jillian Luchner      09/29/23

Senate Afterschool Caucus briefing highlights the impact of afterschool and summer programs

On Wednesday, July 12, the Senate Afterschool Caucus, in partnership with the Afterschool Alliance and the National Summer Learning Association, held a briefing on how the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is making a positive difference for youth, families, and...

BY: Erik Peterson      07/18/23

$50M in 21st CCLC funds from Bipartisan Safer Communities Act sent to states

This summer, a group of 20 Democratic and Republican Senators, led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), worked to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included gun safety measures, mental health support investments, and school safety provisions that aim to...

BY: Erik Peterson      11/03/22

Learning about summer learning

Summer enrichment funding for every state was required in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). The State of Summer Learning Grants: An Analysis of States’ Use of ARP Summer Enrichment published in July by the organization Education...

BY: Jillian Luchner      09/19/22

ARP investments in comprehensive afterschool: Kentucky case-study

By Mahika Gupta and Alexa Kamen, the Afterschool Alliance’s inaugural Summer Policy Interns. Mahika is entering her Senior year at Colby College in Maine, working on degrees in English Creative Writing and Astrophysics and participating as a staff writer for her college paper. Alexa...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/18/22

ARP investments in comprehensive afterschool: Connecticut case-study

By Mahika Gupta and Alexa Kamen, the Afterschool Alliance’s inaugural Summer Policy Interns. Mahika is entering her Senior year at Colby College in Maine, working on degrees in English Creative Writing and Astrophysics and participating as a staff writer for her college paper. Alexa...

BY: Guest Blogger      08/05/22

Roundup of afterschool in State Budgets Part 2

With state legislative sessions wrapping up and state budgets now finalized, we bring you our second installment of the roundup of afterschool funding in state budgets. As highlighted in the previous post from June, this year brought a number of new investments in afterschool at the state level....

BY: Chris Neitzey      07/21/22

For some, a summer of enrichment thanks to ARP dollars

This summer, thanks to pandemic relief funding, some students are experiencing a summer full of exploration, connections with friends and mentors, and learning that is engaging and exciting. After the last couple years, it can be a game changer for youth who have faced isolation, loss, and...

BY: Erik Peterson      06/27/22

Jodi Grant testifies at House hearing in support of afterschool programs

This morning, Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant testified at a hearing of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-E) Appropriations Subcommittee in favor of increased funding for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st...

BY: Erik Peterson      05/26/22

American Rescue Plan funds one year later: Support for afterschool, summer learning

A little more than one year ago, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law, providing billions in funding to support communities and youth impacted by the pandemic, and naming afterschool and summer learning programs as one strategy to invest in to support young people. So...

BY: Erik Peterson      04/15/22