After-School Programs Endangered

	For comment or to arrange interviews with parents: Susan Brenna, TASC Director of Communications T. (646)943-8712 E. sbrenna@tascorp.org For comment on endangered programs, contact: Lucy N. Friedman, President, The After-School Corporation T. (646) 943-8712 E. sbrenna@tascorp.org Michael Zisser, Executive Director, University Settlement Society of New York/PS 137 T. (212) 674-9120 James O'Neill, Executive Director, Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation/PS 122 C. 917-667-3903  T. 718-786-7110 E. joneill@sasfny.org

The governor is proposing to reduce funding for the Advantage After School program from $26.5 million to less than $19.2 million. He would also eliminate the $9.8 million he had previously proposed spending to support 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provide mostly low income children with daily after-school programs.

An estimated 15,000 children will be shut out of after-school programs in New York State next year under Governor David A. Paterson's proposed spending plans, according to an analysis by The After-School Corporation (TASC). The governor is proposing:

• To reduce funding for the Advantage After School program from $26.5 million in FY 2009 to less than $19.2 million next year
• To eliminate the $9.8 million the governor had previously pledged to support federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC), which provide mostly low income children statewide with daily after-school programs

TASC, a nonprofit organization that works to expand after-school opportunities in New York City and State, estimates that 7,500 or more children are in danger of losing their after-school programs due to cuts in Advantage After School. About half those children are in New York City.

The proposed $9.8 million in state support for 21CCLC programs would have paid for 6,250 or more kids to attend daily after-school programs.

TASC anticipates the loss of after-school programs could be much worse than these numbers indicate. Most free or low-cost programs depend on funds from more than one government source. The cumulative effect of spending cuts from every level – city, state, and private funders whose assets are decreasing -- could cause numerous programs to go under over the next year-and-a-half.

"These cuts to after-school programs will have a deep impact on working parents in New York," TASC president Lucy N. Friedman said today. "The scale of these and other anticipated cuts will threaten the viability of many free and low cost programs. Parents will have to scramble to find alternative programs to keep their kids safe after 3, if they can find any at all.

"Some parents will see more of their paychecks going to child care at a time when they can least afford it," Ms. Friedman said. "Older students will lose access to the enriching programs that keep them engaged in school and on the path towards high school graduation."

Contact: Susan Brenna; sbrenna@tascorp.org or (646) 943-8712