CAN Policy Newsletter – Increase in Federal Funding!
January 14, 2020
Since our last newsletter, we received some good news and some bad news for afterschool funding.
Starting with the bad news, California’s afterschool programs have been stretched to their breaking point after years of rising costs. Each time the state minimum wage has increased without sufficient funding from the state, afterschool programs have sunk deeper into deficit. Since 2007, the state minimum wage has increased by 62.5 percent (as of January 2020), but funding for afterschool has only increased 17 percent. 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? Check out our posts below under the California section.
Now for the good news! In March 2019, the administration called for eliminating all 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) funding for afterschool and summer programs in the 2020 budget. However, the afterschool field jumped into action, and never gave up. At the end of December, we saw our efforts pay off: Congress passed a budget (signed by the President) that not only rejected the elimination of funding but provides an additional $28 million for afterschool and summer programs!
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:
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:
Registration is NOW Open 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!
Amplify the Voices of Afterschool
Last year at the CA Afterschool & Summer Challenge we delivered buckets of postcards directly to members of the legislature, bringing the voices of over 10,000 children and youth who attend our programs, families who rely on them, and staff who devote their lives to them.
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.
Save the Date: Lights On Afterschool
Oct. 22, 2020
The 20th Lights On Afterschool was a record-breaking success!
Save the Date for Lights On Afterschool 2020 - Thursday, October 22!
With your help, we broke new records–hitting 10,000 events and dozens of landmark lightings. In California alone, we had nearly 1,500 events!