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New York City has held the line and preserved the progress we have made in serving 140,000 kids every day with after-school programs (compared to 10,000 in 1998), thanks to leadership for kids and families at all levels of government: federal, state and city.
It may seem remarkable that the number of kids served in publicly-funded New York City after-school and summer programs is not decreasing, given that our economy is in a recession and tax revenues are down. The mayor and City Council have shown determination to work with the governor and state legislature to support young people. Leaders also recognize how after-school programs protect against further unemployment and family hardships caused by lost job opportunities, as programs kids safe while their parents work or search for work.
The ability to keep these critical supports in place begins with the federal stimulus package proposed by the president and passed by Congress earlier this year. The governor and state leaders have dedicated a portion of that money to increase the number of kids who will attend daily, comprehensive Advantage After School programs next year. About 3,000 more kids will have access, bringing the total to roughly 28,000.A significant portion of those kids live in New York City.
New York’s young people will also feel the effects of stimulus spending this summer, as state leaders dedicate stimulus money to support more than 17,000 summer jobs for high school-aged kids. As we have seen, when teens are exposed to careers and the rewards of work through jobs and internships, they are motivated to stay in school and graduate.
Last week, the New York City Council adopted a budget, negotiated with Mayor Bloomberg, which restored most of the earlier proposed cuts to after-school programs supported through the city’s Out-of-School Time (OST) initiative. (This assumes New York State Senate acts to pass a tax revenue package.) Federal stimulus funds could be used to fill the remaining revenue hole in OST.