WPLLC > Policy Expertise > Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education > After School

After School

In the U.S. today, most families need some type of after school service as 14.3 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends, including almost four million middle school students in grades six to eight. Just 6.5 million children are in after school programs, but the parents of another 15.3 million children say their kids would participate if a program were available. In recognition of the needs of working families, the federal government began a $40 million pilot after school program in Fiscal Year 1998 to help keep kids safe and to improve academic achievement of struggling students.

Three years ago, the program, now called the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program, was reauthorized as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. It has now grown to an almost $1 billion-a-year program. And while there is strong bi-partisan support for the program in Congress, as well as tremendous public support, the program has been targeted for cuts because of recent budget constraints.

Washington Partners, LLC works with a variety of clients whose primary interest is in growing the 21st CCLC program to meet its authorization levels in No Child Left Behind. WPLLC assists clients in articulating and sharing their message, research and evaluations so that it is meaningful to elected officials. This also includes helping to organize and train advocates when they come to Washington, D.C. to bring their message about the importance of after school directly to members of Congress.