Afterschool and the 2020 presidential candidates

With the 2020 presidential election 16 months away, more than 25 politicians and business leaders have declared themselves candidates. The first round of debates for Democratic candidates has already happened, most candidates are in full time campaign mode, and the first primaries and caucuses are only six short months away. Education has been a popular campaign topic for many candidates, from student loan forgiveness to increasing teacher pay, however several candidates have gone on the record in support of afterschool and summer learning programs as well. While the nonpartisan Afterschool Alliance does not endorse candidates, we do track their proposals related to support for afterschool and summer learning programs and have summarized the positions of the candidates that have gone on the record in support of afterschool, community schools, summer learning, and wrap around supports for school age children. As more candidates take positions on these topics we will be updating this blog.

As of July 2018, the following here is where the 2020 candidates stand with regard to support for afterschool programs. Note the candidates that have not addressed afterschool programs are not included in this list:

Republicans

President Trump: While afterschool programs are not mentioned specifically in his campaign platform, the president’s budget has three times sought to eliminate funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool and summer learning programs. On a personal level the president has supported local afterschool programs in New York City in the past.

Democrats

Michael Bennet, current U.S. senator from Colorado, includes in his education plan his support for expanded learning opportunities, namely in the form of extended school days and extended school years (200 days or more). On his campaign website, Bennet reasons, "This additional time devoted to learning will support high-quality, structured, and diverse programming to provide an array of opportunities for student enrichment and growth." Bennet also includes support for expanding child nutrition programs, including snack programs, “to ensure that all kids are ready to learn.”

Joe Biden, the former vice president, has outlined a number of education proposals and specifically has addressed both the need for career and technical education as well community schools with support services for children and families. "When parents are working hard to make ends meet, it can be difficult if not impossible for them to navigate various family needs like after-school care, health and social services, and adult education courses..." Community schools work with families, students, teachers and community organizations to identify families’ unmet needs and then develop a plan to leverage community resources to address these needs in the school building, turning schools into community hubs. Biden will expand the federal investment in full service community schools, providing wraparound supports for an additional 300,000 students and their families.

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has spoken on the need for investment in education. His platform includes a proposal to fund the Serve America Act to increase service opportunities from 75,000 to 250,000 in the existing federal and AmeriCorps grantee organizations and through new Service Year Fellowships, targeting high school, community college, vocational, HBCUs and MSI students, and opportunity youth (out-of-school and work).

Julian Castro, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama, proposed to launch an eight-year plan to extend the community schools model to schools in areas of high need to operate as community hubs that have resources and facilities, such as health centers, adult education classes, food banks, and other support facilities for families.

Bill deBlasio, early in his term as mayor of New York City supported and implemented universal access to free middle school afterschool programs in NYC schools in addition to and complementary of his universal pre-school plan.

Kamala Harris, current U.S. senator representing California and former state California Attorney General, her campaign includes a proposal for the largest increase in federal education funding in history. On the campaign trail in South Carolina at a town hall this past summer she reiterated her support for afterschool programs and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs in particular.

Amy Klobuchar, current U.S. senator from Minnesota, has announced as part of her campaign’s support for education and teachers, that as president she would find ways for states to invest in afterschool & community hubs for working families.

Tim Ryan, congressman from Ohio, has made clear his support for afterschool programs, stating that every student deserves a quality education and the constitution requires it. He supports an equity approach that would provide to high need communities: highly-trained teachers, social-emotional learning programs, afterschool programs, mental health counselors, healthy lunches, pathways for family engagement, and up to date books, technology, and curriculums. His education proposal would invest $50 billion in federal programs that will transform every public school by giving them the best resources and services America has to offer. His plan will put every public school in the country on a path to becoming a public community school, with tailored supports that match local resources and assets to student and community needs.

Bernie Sanders, current U.S. senator from Vermont and past Presidential candidate, outlined and extensive education campaign platform with multiple investments including investing $5 billion annually in afterschool and summer learning programs.

Stay tuned for updates from the campaign trail and review our election toolkit and candidate guide (being updated soon for the 2020 election.)

*Last updated 9/18/19