A series of webinars on policy developments.
Watch latestSign up for the seriesThe second session of the 119th Congress began in early January with a range of issues on the agenda. Among the priorities for Congress will be passing the nine remaining FY 2026 spending bills, including the Labor-Education-Health and Human Services (LHHS) spending bill, which funds education, afterschool and summer, and child care programs. This needs to happen before January 30. 2026 to prevent another shutdown or continuing resolution. Significant challenges remain however there is momentum around a bipartisan, bicameral three bill package that could pass the House by the middle of the month. It is still possible that a full-year continuing resolution for the FY 2026 LHHS spending bill will be needed, as occurred for fiscal year 2025, but that will hopefully be avoided. January is pivotal for the spending process: continued outreach to members of Congress is needed. Reach out about the value of local afterschool and summer programs in your community. You can weigh in with your elected officials now.
On January 6, the Trump Administration through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared they had frozen multiple child care and family assistance grants, including Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grants, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Social Services Block Grant Funds (SSBG) in 5 states (Minnesota, California, Colorado, Illinois, and New York). The announcement came after earlier news reports that all CCDF funds across the U.S. had been frozen as a response to an unverified online video accusing child care centers in Minnesota of committing fraud. The Child Care and Development Fund, also known as the Child Care and Development Block Grant, provides more than a million children (ages 0-13) nationwide with access to affordable child care while their parents work. Nationally, 44% of children served with the CCDF funds are school-aged (5-13) with many being served through afterschool programs. TANF funds are used to support afterschool learning opportunities for young people in several states as well.
The funding freeze for the 5 states was challenged in federal court on January 8. The judge ruled that the Administration was required to fund programs and protect the status quo for a minimum of 14 days as the case proceeds. Other states, not subject to the withholding, are still expected to conform to new reporting measures mentioned in a memo from the Administration of Children and Families. Most states have reported business as usual, but a few states, such as Missouri, appear to be struggling to obtain their CCDF funding. We will continue to update the field as we learn more about state’s ability to access these necessary funds. See our latest blog for more information.
Every second Friday at noon ET, our own Senior VP of Policy, Erik Peterson, will recap the latest policy developments, what we know (or don’t know!) about how they may impact afterschool and summer programs, and what may be coming up next. Register
Co-hosted by the Afterschool Alliance and the National Summer Learning Association, in partnership with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Every Hour Counts, YMCA of the USA, and Save the Children.
Across the nation, local afterschool and summer programs play a vital role in supporting our communities, the economy, and a strong workforce by keeping kids safe, inspiring learning, and helping working parents provide for their families. Federal 21st CCLC funding empowers local communities to meet student, parent, and community needs. 21st CCLC grants support 10,000 programs serving nearly 1.4 million youth. The 25-year history of these programs shows that they work. Youth who participate in programs do better in school, build critical work and life skills, avoid risky behaviors, and land better jobs with higher incomes as adults. When parents have reliable care for their kids, they are more productive on the job, and businesses benefit. 4 in 5 parents report that afterschool programs help them keep their jobs.Watch
Join us for a webinar to explore this CCDF policy change as an opportunity for afterschool providers to collaborate with state agencies, identify service gaps, and explore ways school-age programs can be included in funding opportunities to meet underserved needs.Watch
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