State and Federal Policy and Funding Update 4/28
Budget subcommittee hearings on ASES funding increase, SB 645 update, Federal 21st CCLC update
May 5th and 7th Budget Subcommittee Hearings on ASES
Funding Increase
After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs’ funding rate
of $7.50 per student daily rate has not changed since 2006,
despite a 17% increase in the cost of living and increases in the
minimum wage. According to a
recent survey nine out of 10 after-school programs
surveyed already report being negatively impacted by flat
funding. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance
will meet on May 5, 2015 (at 9am in room 444) and the Senate
Education Budget Subcommittees will meet on May 7, 2015 (at 9:30
am in room 3191) and public comments are welcome. Each
subcommittee is expected to consider the ASES Funding Increase
issue at their respective May 5 and May 7 hearings.
For more information click here.
Locate and contact members of the Senate Education Budget Subcommittee
Locate and contact members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance
State Senate Bill 645 Update
SB 645 (Hancock), The Quality After School Sustainability Act
seeks to increase the ASES daily rate to $8.50 per-student,
per-day over two years and establish a permanent cost of living
increase for ASES programs. The bill recently passed the Senate
Education Committee with bipartisan support and moved to the
Senate Appropriations Committee where it was placed on the
Appropriations Suspense File and will be voted on in late May.
Locate and contact your local legislators
Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Update
The United States Congress is considering legislation to replace
the 2001 No Child Left Behind Law. While the Senate proposal
would continue to funding for 21st Century Community Learning
Centers (21st CCLC), the House would eliminate the
21st CCLC Program along with a range of other
programs; and repurpose the funds into a Block Grant to state
agencies which could support a variety of activities in- and
out-of-school. The 21st CCLC program provides funding for nearly
700 schools including nearly 300 of which are High School
(ASSETs) sites serving nearly 100,000 students in California.
Additionally, supplemental 21st CCLC funds have the potential to
support year-round learning.