Approximately 60 percent of the affected programs are in New York City. They serve more than 20,000 children and teens.
The affected after-school programs currently receive funding through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program. The funding is distributed through the New York State Department of Education, which allocates the funds to local programs through a competitive process. After-school programs throughout the State had anticipated a new competitive round of funding for the school year 2007-2008. Last week, state officials began to inform after-school programs the funding would not be forthcoming.
"It is unclear to us why the State is no longer planning to continue funding for these programs in the next school year, but what is very clear is the devastating impact that the decision will have on the children and families who depend on these after-school programs. A solution needs to be found quickly to keep these programs operating," said Michelle Yanche of Neighborhood Family Services Coalition.
"Thanks to the funds we currently receive, organizations like the YMCA are able to serve thousands of kids every year in the critical afterschool hours," said Jack Lund, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York. "Without these programs, not only will working parents lose a vital resource they depend on to keep their children safe, kids will lose support services that are actively helping to enrich their futures, academically and socially."
Youth advocates and after-school program leaders are calling on Governor Eliot Spitzer and state legislators to include in the state budget $30 million for a one-year extension of after-school programs while a more permanent funding solution can be found. They are also calling on the President and Congress to fully fund 21st CCLC. Congress authorized $2.5 billion for the program nationally, but budgeted only $981 million for the program for 2007-08.
"We need urgent action to avert the loss of these vital after-school services. The families of the 34,000 children who attend these programs need to know quickly that the programs will be able to continue," said Lucy N. Friedman, president of The After-School Corporation (TASC).
After-school programs keep kids safe and supervised while their parents work, support student learning and provide students with enrichments, including art, music and sports. Currently about 400,000 children and teens in New York State have access to after-school programs, but another 600,000 have no access. A recent survey of programs in New York by the Afterschool Alliance found that many programs are at capacity or have waiting lists.
Contact: Susan Brenna; sbrenna@tascorp.org
Released in partnership with the Coalition for After-School Funding (CASF)
