ASPIRE Act Proposes to Provide Dedicated Funding for After School Programs Serving Older Youth

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Last month, Senators Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Franken (D-Minn.) introduced the Afterschool Partnerships Improve Results in Education (ASPIRE) Act. S. 2785 would provide dedicated grant funding for quality after school programs that serve older youth at the middle and high school levels. The bill authorizes a national demonstration project to create after school programs from older youth, and awards competitive grants to establish or expand after school programs that increase older youth engagement in learning, demonstrate how academics relate to career opportunities, and increase civic engagement, and service learning. The bill was supported by over 30 organizations including the National PTA, Save the Children, the YMCA of the USA and the Center for Law and Social Policy. To read this bill as it was introduced on November 17, 2009 click here