Advocates from 42 states visit Capitol Hill & urge Congress to reject Trump administration proposal to end federal afterschool funding

More than 200 afterschool providers, community leaders, educators, parents and youth from around the nation will be on Capitol Hill next Tuesday and Wednesday, June 11 and 12, to educate Congress about the urgent need to increase – rather than eliminate – federal funding for afterschool and summer learning programs in Fiscal Year 2020. The administration is proposing no funds at all for 21st Century Community Learning Centers – the chief federal funding stream for afterschool and summer learning programs – next year. If Congress agrees, nearly 2 million children and youth would lose their programs.

The 18th annual Afterschool for All Challenge kicked off with an Afterschool Showcase featuring the innovative activities afterschool programs across the country offer, from STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to health and wellness, from community service to music and the arts, from job readiness to family support. Students from afterschool programs based in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Forth Worth and Greenville, Texas, as well as D.C., Maryland, and Virginia shared their experiences. In addition to inspiring speeches by the 2019 class of Youth Afterschool Ambassadors, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), Don Young (R-Alaska) spoke at the Showcase. Jodi Grant, executive director, Afterschool Alliance, served as master of ceremonies.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 12, afterschool supporters from around the country will meet with members of Congress throughout the day to talk about the ways afterschool programs support students, families, schools, communities and our future workforce. They will remind elected officials that quality afterschool and summer learning programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and give working parents peace of mind. Thousands of advocates will be participating via email and social media, as well. Friends of afterschool can follow the events in Washington, D.C., on the hashtag #AfterschoolWorks, and connect with their elected officials by visiting 3to6.co/congress. 

The Afterschool Alliance is grateful to Capital One for its sponsorship of the 2019 Afterschool for All Challenge!