Send the White House a Message on After-School

TASC President Lucy N. Friedman today called on families whose kids are shut out of after-school programs to take action and communicate with the president.

For the millions of families hoping for financial relief in the form of more openings in after-school programs, President Obama's proposed federal budget yesterday came as a blow. The president is proposing no increase to the major federal stream for after-school funding, 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC). While current conditions tempered expectations that the president would be able to fulfill his campaign promise to double 21st CCLC after-school programs, families and those in the after-school field hoped and expected to see progress toward that goal.

"Right now, millions of kids have nowhere safe to go and nothing productive to do at the end of the school day," Ms. Friedman said. "The evidence is clear that parents are facing impossible choices about what to do with their children while they work and struggle to keep their families afloat. We're urging families to communicate with the White House and their elected representatives to help them understand both their needs and the benefits of fully funding and expanding after-school opportunities for more kids."

The president's budget proposal holds 21stCCLC funding at its current level of $1.13 billion, less than half the $2.5 billion authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Ms. Friedman added, "I'm encouraged by President Obama's proposal to triple the size of AmeriCorps. TASC AmeriCorps members have brought their vitality, their love of kids and their community-minded values to New York City after-school programs for many years. The more of these role models kids can have in their lives, the better."

• TASC Take Action Center