Both state (ASES) and federal (21st CCLC) after school programs are at risk and we need your help to Save After School! Signing letters, personal emails and phone calls to Congress and the state legislature, as well as sharing with your communities all make an impact. Read on for more specific ways to get engaged.

Federal Policy:  Help Support 21st CCLC

On Monday, March 11, the administration called for eliminating all funding for afterschool and summer programs in the 2020 budget. The afterschool field didn’t miss a beat, springing into action to save the programs that 1.7 million kids and their families rely on. Thousands of afterschool advocates made the phones ring off the hook on Capitol Hill, while our champions let media know just how catastrophic this elimination would be for students, families, schools, and communities. Together, we made some serious noise.

Help us continue the momentum to Save After School! Here’s a few ways you can get involved:

• Local, state, or national organizations can get involved a by signing on to a letter to Congress in support of 21st CCLC. 
• Reach out to your specific members of Congress and tell them to reject this proposal to eliminate afterschool funding.
• Continue to share this information with your networks and promote on social media.

Learn more by visiting the Afterschool Alliance.

State Policy: Help Support ASES

On Tuesday, hundreds of advocates came to the Capitol for the California After School and Summer Challenge. It is time to carry that momentum. There are 3 different ways you can help:

1. Attend Budget Hearings
2. Submit Letters of Support
3. Contact Your Legislators

See below for more details!

Update: Budget Hearing on ASES Rescheduled

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education will discuss our request for more funding for After School Education and Safety (ASES) on May 7, instead of Tuesday, March 26. Please let us know if you can join us (email Jennifer Dietrich at jdietrich@partnerforchildren.org) to support students and families who rely on afterschool programs: 

• Wednesday, March 27

  • Assembly Education will vote on AB 1085 (McCarty) to help prioritize Prop. 64 (Adult-Use Cannabis) for after school
  • Hearing starts at 1:30 PM, Room 4202
  • Factsheet on AB 1085, additional info on afterschool and Prop. 64
• Tuesday, May 7
  • Assembly Budget Sucommittee #2 will discuss our request for more funding for ASES
  • Hearing starts at 9:00 AM, Room 447
  • Factsheet on budget request
• Thursday, May 9
  • Senate Budget Subcommittee #2 will discuss our request for more funding for ASES
  • Hearing starts at 9:30 AM or upon adjournment of Senate Floor Session, Rooom 3191
  • Factsheet on budget request

There’s Still Time for Letters of Support

A huge thank you to everyone who immediately jumped into action and sent in letters of support!

Since the budget subcommittees will not discuss our ASES budget request until May, there is still plenty of time to voice your support if you didn’t get the chance last week. We need to show the Legislature that people across the state support more funding for afterschool, so please ask your networks to write letters of support as well.

Feel free to customize this letter template on your organization’s letterhead. Then, email it to Jennifer Dietrich at jdietrich@partnerforchildren.org and she will submit it to the Budget Subcommittees on Education.

Download the ASES Budget Request Letter Template

Contact Your Legislators

Ask your Assembly Member and Senator to sign this letter of support to increase funding for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program. Legislators are more likely to take action if they know people in their district are requesting help; your contact can help make the difference for afterschool this year.

STEP 1: Find your representative.
STEP 2: Call or email your representative(s) and ask them to sign this letter.

Sample call script:
Hello, my name is ____ and I’m calling from [city]____ in your district. I am calling in support of a budget request to increase funding for afterschool programs so that they don’t close. [Briefly explain why you value afterschool programs / what would happen if your child's program shut down.] Afterschool programs are critical to keep kids safe and learning after school, and to allow parents to keep working to support their families. I have a sign on letter that I can send for [Assemblymember/Senator_____] to review and hopefully sign. What is the best email address to send it to?
 
Sample email (just copy, paste, and fill in the blanks!):
Hello, my name is ____ and I’m writing from [city]____ in your district. I am writing in support of a budget request to increase funding for afterschool programs so that they don’t close. [Briefly explain why you value afterschool programs / what would happen if your child's program shut down.] Afterschool programs are critical to keep kids safe and learning after school, allowing their parents to keep working to support their families. Please find a legislative sign on letter attached, as well as some additional information. I hope that we have [Assemblymember/Senator_____]’s support.

ATTACHMENTS: 
1. Sign on letter
2. Families Need Afterschool Programs
3. Protect California’s Afterschool Programs

Let us know if your legislators agree to sign the letter so we can collect their signature. (email Jennifer Dietrich at jdietrich@partnerforchildren.org)

Learn more here.