President’s Proposed Budget Suggests Major Changes to 21st CCLC Program

The President recently released his 2009 budget request that proposes to fund the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program at $800 million for nationwide after school programs. This is a reduction from the Congress proposed $1.08 billion budget for the program, while The No Child Left Behind act originally authorized 2.5 billion be released annually for the program. Furthermore, the administration proposes that these funds be made available in scholarships to give parents the option to enroll their children in after school or summer school programs and changing the name of the program to “21st Century Learning Opportunities.”

To view an overview of the proposed changes to the 21st CCLC program click here.

To view the Afterschool Alliance press release outlining the federal budget cuts including a table that illustrates the number of students served and the number of students that will lose service under the proposed budget, click here.

Opportunity for Public Comment

On February 26th US Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings will testify before the House Appropriations Committee responsible for after school funding, the Afterschool Alliance has suggested that February 25-26 as an appropriate time for representatives and members of congress to receive public comment on the proposed changes to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. To find your Congressional representatives click here

The Afterschool Alliance is sponsoring a campaign to help adults contact their elected officials about the issue. To view a page containing the Alliance analysis of the current budget proposal and an opportunity to email comments to your congressional representatives, click here.