Current Status: This bill passed the Senate Committee on Education on March 24th and was sent to the Committee on Appropriations for review with recommendations. Its first hearing on April 26th in the Appropriations Committee was cancelled at the request of the author, and the bill was held under submission on May 27, 2010.

This bill was introduced by Senator Ashburn on January 26, 2010 and announced at the California Rural After School Summit that same day. SB 898 was referred to the Senate Committee on Education on February 11, 2010. The bill, which is co-sponsored by the League of California Afterschool Providers, as well as the Small School Districts Association, would establish a minimum ASES grant for after school programs in small rural schools. Although rural programs often serve a high percentage of their school population. As many rural schools are small, they are often not financially viable under the current funding formula. SB 898 proposes a minimum grant for rural after school programs.