Afterschool Alliance

As Congress continues the FY2019 appropriations process, I urge you to fund 21st CCLC at the $1.3 billion spending level and reject any cuts to the program. Thank you for your support in the FY2018 omnibus spending bill of local afterschool and summer learning programs that rely on federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding to provide quality programs to 1.7 million young people.

There is overwhelming evidence that afterschool and summer learning programs support student success. A wide range of research has found that regular participation in high-quality summer and afterschool learning programs is linked to significant gains in academics, school attendance, and work habits, as well as reductions in behavior problems among disadvantaged students. Afterschool and summer learning programs also serve as protective factors helping prevent young people from engaging in substance abuse. Programs give parents peace of mind by keeping young people safe and productively engaged when school is not in session – the time when youth are most at risk of losing ground. Without the seed money provided by federal funding for summer and afterschool programs, students will lose out on essential learning opportunities that help them prepare for school, college, and careers.

I strongly urge you to support funding for our local programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative by providing $1.3 billion which will serve almost 2 million young people nationwide. Finally, I ask that you reject the administration’s proposal and protect this important lifeline for students, families, and communities.

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Tell Congress: We Can't Afford Cuts to Afterschool!

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