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AFTER-SCHOOL POLICY

Shut down “Prime Time for Juvenile Crime” by assuring families access to youth development programs for the after-school and summer hours. Research and evaluation across the country show that quality youth development programs can cut crime immediately and transform the Prime Time for Juvenile Crime (3:00 to 6:00 PM) into hours of constructive activities that teach youngsters the values and skills they need to become good neighbors and responsible adults. 

2008 (FY09) Policy Recommendations: 

A. Significantly Increase the Line Item for the Teen REACH program to begin making a dent in the tremendous unmet need around the state for quality after-school opportunities for our school age children.  A significant increase would be in the range of $10 million in addition to the current $19 million line item. 

B. Preserve the $5.1 million in funding for and assure quality of the programs that received grants through the Illinois State Board of Education After-School Programs, Mentoring, and Student Support line item.  These dollars enabled legislators to fund needed after-school programs in their districts. While much of ISBE funds have gone to deserving programs, because there have not been adequate safeguards in place, in the past funds have also been distributed to programs of questionable quality.  In FY 2009 the legislature should assure that all after school programs receiving state funding meet high standards of effectiveness.