How to Make Afterschool an Election Issue - Afterschool and the ESEA

In March 2010, President Obama introduced the Blueprint for Reform, which presented the Administration’s proposed framework for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The Blueprint attempts to redefine the nature and structure of the traditional school day, mainly by advocating for expanded learning time (ELT). The afterschool community is supportive of innovations that will help children succeed. But extra time alone is not enough—we must re-imagine the school day, making room for vibrant community partnerships and hands on project-based learning. It is also critical that we maintain dedicated funding for afterschool programs. Ultimately, it is Congress—your representatives and senators—that crafts the language reauthorizing ESEA; now, more than ever, the afterschool community must reach out to elected officials and explain why afterschool programs are absolutely critical in communities across the country.

There are three main issues facing afterschool as proposed in the Department of Education’s Blueprint:

1. Community-based organizations could not be the lead entity in applying for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funds through the proposed national Local Education Agency (LEA) competition. Instead, the LEA school district would be the proprietor of funding.
2. State grants will be competitive as opposed to formula-based; in a competitive grant system, funding is not guaranteed for each state and the District of Columbia, and an afterschool infrastructure at the state level would not be guaranteed for each state, as is currently the case.
3. Funding for the 21st CCLC initiative—the only government program exclusively for before-school, afterschool and summer learning—would be combined with funding for a longer school day and Full Service Community Schools.

Why are these issues potentially threatening to afterschool?

1. Community-based organizations currently run one-third of 21st CCLC programs. Isolating them from grant entitlement could sever the bonds between communities and school districts that are essential for successful afterschool programs.
2. Making state-wide grants competitive would exclude some states from receiving any federal afterschool funding, leaving a portion of our nation’s youth with no afterschool option. Dismantling the state level afterschool infrastructure will also negatively impact technical assistance and training provided to local programs by state agencies.
3. Currently, 21st CCLC programs only make a dent in the over 15 million kids that have no opportunity to participate in afterschool programs. Merging funding streams would take away resources fundamental to successful afterschool programs.

What are the solutions?

1. Community-based organizations, LEAs and faith-based organizations should be eligible to compete for a grant’s lead entity status.
2. Current law should be maintained which funds the 21st CCLC program by formula to all states and the District of Columbia, with each State Education Agency running a competitive grant program.
3. Rather than divert existing 21st CCLC funding to other uses, ESEA should provide separate and enhanced funding streams for:
   •    The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program;
   •    Full Service Community Schools; and
   •    Expanding the school day or year.

All children, especially at-risk and struggling learners, need and deserve quality afterschool opportunities. Congress is working on ESEA reauthorization language at this very moment. For the sake of the children, families and communities we work with every day, it is crucial that we raise our voices. For more information, visit our ESEA page.