On April 6th, 1,456 local, state, and national organizations sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to fund the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21CCLC) program (ESSA Title IV, Part B) at no less than the current funding level ($1.167 billion). The letter was sent to members of the U.S. House and Senate appropriations subcommittees that handle education funding. It highlights that every State and almost every Congressional District has an organization supported with 21CCLC funding.
The letter was posted by the Afterschool Alliance, one of the signers, and provides evidence that afterschool programs prepare students for college and the workforce. Evidence includes improved academic performance, greater likelihood to be promoted to the next grade, reductions in disciplinary incidents, and reductions in school-day absences. The letter says, “Students who regularly participate in 21st Century Community Learning Centers improve their school attendance, class participation and behavior, homework completion, and reading and math achievement scores and grades.”
In addition to the letter from the 1,456 organizations, 81 members of Congress sent a separate letter to the top two members of the U.S. House appropriations subcommittee that handles education funding. That letter also urged subcommittee members to fund 21CCLC programs at no less than the current funding level. The congressional letter indicates that cutting funding to 21CCLC programs would be “devastating to families across the country who rely on afterschool and summer learning programs.” It also provides evidence that students that participate in 21CCLC programs “showed improved behavior and performed better academically than students who did not participate in the program. Students who regularly attend these programs have better grades and behavior in school, better peer relations and emotional well-being, and lower incidences of drug-use, violence, and pregnancy.”
TransACT is a strong supporter of after-school programs, including support for providers of these programs through Cayen System’s K-12 After School Program Management Software. If you have any questions or would like more information about Cayen System’s After School Management software, please contact us at 425.977.2100, Option 3 or email at support@transact.com.
