A message from our partners at the Coalition for After-School Funding (CASF), learn more about how to testify at the upcoming budget hearings. Your support is needed to influence the state budget so allocations will benefit after-school programs.
As a supporter of after-school programs in New York State, we don't have to tell you that after-school is facing a funding crisis in New York State, due to the failure of state, local and federal funding to keep pace with the need.
We now have a great opportunity to speak up about this crisis.
Beginning on November 17th, the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB) will be holding budget hearings in selected locations throughout New York State to get the public's views as to the funding priorities in the state budget. (The schedule is below.) I urge you to commit yourself to testify on behalf of after-school. Written testimony is also permitted if you're not able to come to the hearing.
As Governor Eliot Spitzer is due to submit his proposed state budget to the Legislature, this is the best opportunity we have to convince the Governor that after-school is among the highest priorities for state funding in what's expected to be a lean state budget.
As you know, earlier this year, the State Education Department announced that it was not making available promised funding for 207 after-school programs statewide that serve over 34,000 children. Depending on the individual program, these programs - funded under the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program - faced closure after June of 2007, cuts in numbers of children served, and other program cuts. Thankfully, the Legislature provided a $7.5 million appropriation to cover roughly one-quarter of the roughly $30 million needed to keep these programs running for another year in the 2007 budget agreement. But we have no assurance whatsoever that the Legislature will continue this one-time funding in the 2008-09 state fiscal year. After-school funding from state funding sources also has been stagnant in recent years as costs - and the need - have both gone up.
Here's the hearings schedule:
Buffalo
Saturday, November 17
Time: 10:00 am -1:00 pm
Where: Buffalo Museum of Science
Rochester
Saturday, November 17
Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Where: University of Rochester Medical Center
Syracuse
Tuesday, November 27
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Where: Common Council Chambers
Utica
Tuesday, November 27
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Where: SUNY IT, Marcy
Long Island
Friday, November 30
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: H. Lee Dennison Office Building, Hauppauge
In addition to parents and providers of after-school, we urge you to encourage allies of after-school like educators, law enforcement officials, and members of the business community to speak up as to the benefits of after-school for your community. They are often our most effective spokespeople, as they can provide valuable information as to such issues as the benefits of after-school in raising student achievement, reducing crime, and helping parents transition from welfare to work.
You can get the official hearing notice here. Please note that you must register in advance to testify. However, to obtain talking points and other materials to guide your testimony, please email Rachel Sabella at rsabella@tascorp.org.
