CAN Policy Newsletter – #AfterschoolWorks
February 25, 2020
We know #AfterschoolWorks – in fact, CAN just released our most recent State of the State of Expanded Learning for California that highlights the many ways afterschool works for California’s students, families, and communities.
Yet despite this, for the fourth year in a row, President Trump’s budget calls for the elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program – the only dedicated source of federal funding for afterschool and summer learning programs and in California the only funding source dedicated to providing Expanded Learning opportunities for High School youth.
Additionally, despite the much-needed investment in afterschool, Governor Newsom’s budget does not include any additional funds for afterschool programs in his January Budget Proposal.
Want to learn more and get involved? Read on for events, tools, and resources to support you as you advocate for afterschool!
Thank you for all your support and work as we continue to advocate on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of students and their families for increased funding and supports for afterschool!
In This Newsletter:
Last Chance! Register now for the CA Afterschool & Summer Challenge
March 9-10, 2020; Sacramento, CA
Register now and join us March 9-10, 2020 in Sacramento for the 16th annual CA Afterschool & Summer Challenge!
Stand with hundreds of students, families, and afterschool providers to demand adequate support for publicly-funded programs. Help us ensure the Governor and legislature keep children learning and parents working!
The State of the State of Expanded Learning in California 2018-19
The State of the State of Expanded Learning in California 2018-19 provides an overview of the public investment in expanded learning opportunities in California. This year’s report outlines that Expanded Learning programs provide after school and summer learning opportunities to over 980,000 of California’s students with the greatest needs through nearly 4,500 expanded learning programs.
Afterschool Programs Left Out of CA Budget Proposal
On Friday, January 10, California Governor Gavin Newsom released
his state budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020-21, which failed
to include critically needed funding for afterschool programs.
The California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance (CA3)* issued this
joint statement in response:
CA Teens Advocating for Civic Engagement
“What happens when adult allies continue to make authentic youth voice a priority? When High school students in various leadership groups from San Diego to Oakland, CA speak truth to power? When technology becomes a resource for across state collaboration? When young people meet up in Sacramento to speak to legislators about the challenges they’re faced with and how afterschool funding supports overcoming some of these challenges? Answer: a $50M ASES increase with the support of our “TACA”(Teens Advocating for Civic Engagement) youth.” Check out the full post from LIAS to learn more about TACA and how you can get involved.
White House Eliminates Funding for Afterschool Programs
President Trump’s proposed budget for FY21 zeroes out afterschool and summer funding for 1.7 million young people—including over 150,000 California youth daily.
Contact your senators and representatives in Congress and ask them to stand up for California—and America’s—children, families, and communities.
Congress will determine whether this proposal becomes law, and if local afterschool and summer learning programs remain open or close their doors. If the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative is eliminated, many programs will not survive.
Afterschool & the 2020 Elections
Afterschool Ignored in the 2020 Political Conversation
In a recent LIAS post, Guest Blogger, Dr. Gil Noam highlights how our current election season is leaving afterschool out of the conversation.
Check out the full post on the LIAS Blog!
2020 Presidential Candidates: Positons on Afterschool
Guest Blogger Erik Peterson, from the Afterschool Alliance shares information on where presidential candidates stand on afterschool. Learn more and also stay tuned for Afterschool Alliance updates from the campaign trail and review our election toolkit and candidate guide(being updated for the 2020 election).
Federal FY2020 Update: Afterschool Funding Increased!
Congressional members reached an agreement on the budget that was signed by the President by the December 20 deadline, averting a shutdown. The final budget provides $1.25 billion for local afterschool and summer learning programs, which will provide quality programming for an additional 28,000 students. This brings afterschool funding to an all-time high and is a testament to the strong 21st Century Community Learning Center programs across our nation.
Census 2020 – Be Counted!
Did you know that federal funding for after school programs is determined by the census?
Getting an accurate census count is crucial so the Afterschool Alliance has created a toolkit that makes it easy to learn more and get involved with the census. The Afterschool Alliance is a national advocacy organization dedicated to increasing access to quality, affordable afterschool programs for all children and their families.
The 2020 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is Here!
Afterschool Alliance is bringing back the Lights On Afterschool poster contest! Grab your markers and sketchbooks, your digital art pads and pens: the afterschool artist who creates the winning masterpiece will take home $500 for their afterschool program!