Afterschool should not be on the federal budget cut list

Next week the president’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be released — the opening salvo in a long process of negotiations about what Congress should fund and at what levels. If past is prologue, it will be declared dead on arrival by most in Congress and dissected by allies and opponents, whether for commendation or criticism.

As someone who believes deeply in afterschool as a way to lift, support and heal communities, I’ll be looking to see how the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) program fares. 21^st CCLC is the only federal funding dedicated to afterschool and summer learning opportunities. These programs typically serve youth from low-income families who need a safe and supportive haven while their parents are working. Yet, the last two budget cycles, the president has called for its elimination.

{mosads}But here are some facts worth noting. The gap between families’ work and school schedules can be up to 25 hours per week. As such, afterschool programs provide parents peace of mind, allow them to work a full schedule, and help them be more productive on the job while kids avoid risky behaviors, in particular when juvenile crime and victimization peaks in the immediate hours after the regular school day ends.

More than three-quarters of parents surveyed in my home state of Tennessee cited their ability to be productive at work knowing their kids are engaged in hands-on learning in a safe environment as reason for giving the 21^st CCLC a thumbs up. They also recognized the value of the educational supports offered and the exposure to mentors employed in careers they may never have thought to pursue. The benefits extend to the classroom as well: educators say youth in afterschool programs tend to show more interest in class, behave better and are more likely to complete their homework.

These outcomes align with research conducted with students who regularly participate in high-quality afterschool programs: they are less likely to use drugs or alcohol; more likely to advance to the next grade and graduate from high school; earn higher grades and do better on standardized tests; attend school more often; and have opportunities for physical activity and healthy snacks.

Afterschool programming also prepares young people for college and career. In fact, according to America After 3PM, among Tennessee parents, 74 percent say afterschool helps young people gain workforce skills like teamwork, leadership and critical thinking. Another 59 percent reported their afterschool program offers learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math — jobs that are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying in America.

Afterschool programming can also help communities address crises. Like so many other states, the Volunteer State has been deeply impacted by the growing opioid crisis. In 2016, Tennessee reported 1,186 overdose deaths. A year later, there were more pain killer prescriptions than people living in the state. As part of a statewide initiative, leaders have looked to afterschool as one strategy in a multi-pronged effort to encourage prevention and support youth whose lives have been touched by the opioid crisis.
Tennessee needs more afterschool programming, not less. For every Tennessee youth in afterschool, two more would participate if a program were available. 

Policymakers don’t need me to tell them investing in 21^st CCLC provides dividends in spades. The proof is in the research: first, for every $1 invested in afterschool programs, at least $3 are saved by increasing kids’ earning potential, improving their performance at school, and reducing crime and juvenile delinquency; and, second, without a safe place for kids to go after the regular school day, working parents lose the equivalent of eight days of work and businesses lose $300 billion a year due to lost productivity.

Mr. President, take it from someone on the frontlines who cannot imagine being anywhere else. The 21^st CCLC works because of its design; it’s a true public-private partnership between federal, state and local governments and the citizens and communities they serve. The shared investment of time, energy and resources into high quality out-of-school-time programs and positive outcomes translate to a worthwhile investment.

Now is certainly not the time to be pennywise and pound foolish, especially when vulnerable youth and their families rely on these critical resources to survive and thrive. 

Mary Graham, President of United Ways of Tennessee and lead staff, TN Afterschool Network