After-school advocates fight axing budget
Numerous federally funded after-school programs nurturing 100,000 California students could be eliminated as federal budget negotiations begin next month.
Presently, 400 programs across California receive about $130 million annually from Washington D.C., according to CALmatters, a Sacramento nonprofit journalism venture explaining public policy. Also in jeopardy is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) authorized by Congress in 1998 with $40 million then expanded to $1 billion annually. Funds distributed to states are based on the percentage of schools in each state that qualifies as a Title I school, ones with 40 percent or more living below the poverty line.
Goals of 21st CCLC include, assisting youth in meeting state academic standards through before and after-school programs, during holidays or summer recess, also including art, music and tech training.
As President Trump starts budget negotiations with Congress he has let on he will try repealing those funds, arguing the programs do not enhance student progress. Mick Mulvaney, White House Office of Management and Budget director, questioned results. “They’re supposed to help kids so they do better in school,” he said “Guess what, there’s no demonstrable evidence they’re improving achievement.”
But local supporters such as Luis Torres with Project ACE (Accessing Careers through Education) of Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program counter, after-school programs offer foster and low-income youth exposure to activities motivating them toward higher education.
“I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring plenty of youth who’ve told me they would never have thought of going to college had it not been for Project ACE,” said Torres. “By partnering up with school districts and counselors we’ve been able to achieve 80 to 90 percent high school graduation rates for foster youth in Imperial County while it’s only 50 percent for the nation.”
Foster children typically don’t perform as well as non-foster academically, partly because of frequent moving, noted Torres. Yet, because of after-school programs they have seen noticeable improvement. One of those success stories is Lucerito Tirado, 26.
Tirado was a foster youth with Project ACE by the age of 13. This year she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University (SDSU) – Imperial Valley and returns this month for a master’s degree in social work.
She noted she has cultivated good work ethics because of Project ACE, which embraced working 20 hours a week at her school library. “I attended ACE workshops and they taught me what a parent [a single mother] needs to do, credit knowledge, budgeting- to keep a job,” she said.
Tirado now works for Project ACE as a youth advocate, and remarked she tries to be a good role model. “Without Project ACE, I wouldn’t have graduated SDSU or applied for a master’s [degree],” she said. “Studying in the program has given me life skills and increased my self-confidence. Having the support of mentors like Luis Torres and Estella Diaz, I’ve never felt completely alone.”
Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed the 2017/18 state budget covering an additional $50 million for education including an After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, noted Miriam Bell, Imperial County Office of Education family resource center’s staffer. Bell noted resources are distributed to the county after school, before school and as summer/supplemental funds.
There are 35 ASES funded primary/middle school sites in the county and two 21st CCLC high school sites serving 4,000 Valley students. Current research shows after-school programs are assisting many low-income students, Bell remarked.
According to “The State of the State of Expanded Learning in California,” a publication of the California After School Network in partnership with the California Department of Education’s Expanded Learning Division, ASES and 21st CCLC operate at 4,510 sites with 860,000 students enrolled and with a capacity to serve 485,000 students daily.
In California, 84 percent of parents support public funding for after-school programs. For the most recent cohorts of ASES and 21st CCLC funding, applicants asked for $143 million more than was available. It is estimated 2.4 million more students would participate if programs were available.
Cost pressures are also impacting after-school programs noted the above publication. Since 2007, the Consumer Price Index has increased 21 percent while changes in the minimum wage will have increased 47 percent by 2018. A 2016 survey of 635 ASES providers showed that flat funding has negatively impacted 92 percent of the programs and 29 percent of respondents indicated they are likely to close within the next two years.
If 21st CCLC funding is terminated, 1.6 million students will be without any after-school or summer learning programs nationwide. That includes 85,000 California students and means the loss of over 700 after-school sites, diminishing yearround learning opportunities.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll found 83 percent of voters oppose President Trump’s proposed after-school cuts. In April, Congress released an omnibus spending bill to fund the government through the end of September that increases 21st CCLC total funding to $1.9 billion. The President signed the budget in May, but now both he and Congress will focus on the 2018/19 budget in which he has pledged to eliminate 21st CCLC.
Yet, after-school supporters includes former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who cites research showing California’s programs improve graduation rates and raise standardized test scores. Even summer learning outcomes have shown: 84 percent of students reported improved ability and motivation, 93 percent of teachers reported better relations with students and students increased reading skills by 1/3 a grade level.
Schwarzenegger cited law enforcement officials who say the hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. are the “danger zone” when children get involved in crime, alcohol, drugs and gangs.
“President Trump promised us he wants to make America great again,” he said. “That’s not how you make America great; by taking $1.2 billion from children and robbing them blind.”