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AFTER-SCHOOL POLICY

Legislative Update-- October 24, 2007

After-School - 21st Century Community Learning Centers fact sheet

In the hour after the school bell rings, violent juvenile crime soars and the prime time for juvenile crime begins. After-school programs that connect children to caring adults and provide constructive activities during these critical hours are among our most powerful tools for preventing crime.

After Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and our allies successfully fought the President's proposed 40 percent cut in after-school programs in 2003, the President proposed no significant cut in his FY05-FY08 budgets. For Fiscal Year 2008, the full House proposes to increase 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding by $125 million - a step in the right direction. The full Senate proposed a far smaller increase of $19 million. As the appropriations process moves forward, we will continue to educate policy-makers about the importance of after-school programs and the need for increased funding to give more kids access to quality after-school activities.

In 2007, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school grants program is up for Congressional reauthorization as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. We urge Congress to improve quality and expand access to after-school programs during the "prime time for juvenile crime" from 3 to 6 PM. In particular, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program should be expanded to address the largely unmet after-school needs of middle and high school youth.

After-school funding letter.
21st Century Community Learning Centers reauthorization letter.