On May 10, 2016, over 300 expanded learning practitioners, advocates, and participants gathered for the 12th Annual California Afterschool and Summer Challenge. The Challenge aims to educate and empower professionals, youth and families to engage in statewide advocacy to advance the out-of-school time field. This year the The Challenge partnered with the Save After School Campaign. The two-day event focused on the campaign to increase the After School Education and Safety (ASES) daily rate and provide relief for cash-strapped ASES programs which have been negatively impacted by flat funding in the face of rising costs. Advocates shared the importance of expanded learning and sought support for funding in this year’s budget to increase the ASES funding rate from $7.50 to $8.50 per student, per day. Advocates also sought support for AB 2663 (Cooper, D-Elk Grove), which would increase the daily ASES funding rate and provide an ongoing cost of living adjustment for ASES programs.