Source: Census Bureau

The House just passed a FY2011 spending bill that cuts $100 million from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool programs. Contact your Members of Congress and ask them to oppose the cut.

Passed on Feb. 19, 2011, HR 1 includes over $60 billion in cuts overall. The bill, which is a Continuing Resolution funding FY2011, will be voted on by the U.S. Senate late this month or in early March. Call, write, email or visit your Senators and Representative in the coming days and ask them to oppose funding cuts to the 21st CCLC initiative. Let them know:

• A $100 million cut to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative will result in about 100,000 fewer children participating in afterschool and summer learning programs, and a loss of about 10,000 jobs.
• Afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.

Consider attending local Town Hall meetings or inviting Members of Congress to afterschool programs (see our toolkit for Planning a Site Visit).

The bill contains widespread cuts to programs many children and families rely on, including eliminating the Americorps program.

For more information on proposed cuts to education, service programs and nutrition assistance, see: http://www.chn.org/save4all/index.html and http://www.saveservice.org/

Source: Literacy San Antonio