On June 27, 2017 Governor Jerry Brown signed the California State Budget of Fiscal Year 2017-18, which included an additional $50 million in ongoing funding for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program. Though the $50 million only goes halfway to meeting the field’s current fiscal needs of a $9 daily rate in response to the increased state minimum wage, this is an essential first step that will allow programs to stay open and ensure thousands of students continue to have a safe place to go after the school bell rings. This significant success could not have been possible without key legislators who prioritized our budget request, the Governor shifting his position on where additional funding for after school come from, and you!

Get on social media today! 

Thank key legislators 
Thank your legislators
Thank Governor Brown

Here is some sample language you can use (fill in the blank by tagging your legislator or Governor Brown (@JerryBrownGov):

• Thank you @____________ for hearing our voices & protecting after school for 600,000 students & their families. #SaveAfterSchool
• Thank you @____________ for increasing $$ for  #afterschool in California so kids continue to have a safe place to go after school!
• Our kids, families, and communities thank @_____________ for $50 mil to keep doors open after school. #SaveAfterSchool

You could also record a quick video of kids, families, and/or staff saying thank you with the hashtag #SaveAfterSchool!

Want to do more? Call legislators and the Governor to say thank you. You can find the phone numbers for Legislators here. You can reach the Governor’s office at (916) 445-2841. Suggested language:

“Hi, my name is (your name). I live/work in (city). I want to thank (Assembly Member/Senator _________ or Governor Brown) for supporting our kids, families, and community by providing critical funding to keep the doors open for after school.”

Your outreach reminds legislators and the Governor that we are watching them and helps build connections for future actions in support of after school.

Again, THANK YOU!  This was only possible with all your hard work and dedication.  Keep up the incredible work out there!