|
|
|
|
Support Afterschool: Let your Senators know to invest in the hours between 3 and 6 p.m.
Thanks to everyone who has reached out to Senator Isakson and Senator Perdue! If you have not already, now is the time to ask them to support Georgia's afterschool, before school, and summer programs!
The What: The Senate's ESEA reauthorization bill is still undergoing bipartisan negotiations and will be marked up in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee in mid-April. As it is currently drafted, the bill consolidates funding for many programs, including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) – the only designated federal funding for afterschool, before school, and summer learning programs, into a block grant school districts could use for much needed in-school supports.
The Why: Research overwhelmingly shows that programs supported by 21st CCLC increase student achievement, improve classroom behavior, increase homework completion, and help prepare students for college and careers. Without a designated funding stream, the programs that give over 35,000 young people across Georgia a safe and enriching place to go after school and during the summer could disappear.
As stated by Karen Pittman and Charles Smith, "The 21st CCLC has not just funded afterschool programs. It has almost accidentally supported the development of afterschool systems and strengthened the demand for accountability which, in turn, has sparked the development of research- and practice-informed definitions and measures of program quality and youth benefits."
The Ask: It is more important than ever for you to let Georgia's Senators, and particularly HELP Committee member Senator Isakson, know the importance of quality afterschool, before school, and summer programs in your community. Please call or email Georgia's Senators and urge them to support afterschool programs.
**Bonus Ask: Tweet at Senator Isakson and Senator Perdue using the sample tweets below about the importance of 21st CCLC in Georgia. It only takes one click!
The Message: Thank you for giving children priority as you represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. Please ensure that any reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act includes continuation of designated funds for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. Keeping the 21st CCLC program intact will ensure that over 35,000 of Georgia’s young people have a safe and enriching place to go after school and helps to level the playing field in achieving school success and career readiness. **Please also add your own examples of why afterschool matters in your community!
**Paste this message into the contact box provided when you click the Senators' names below.
|
|
Sample Tweets
Senator Johnny Isakson
- @SenatorIsakson #21stCCLC provides 35,000+ youth in GA a safe & enriching place to go after school #Invest3to6 [click to tweet this!]
- @SenatorIsakson #21stCCLC helps students succeed in college, careers, & life. 88% of GA parents support public funding for #afterschool [click to tweet this!]
- @SenatorIsakson Demand for afterschool in GA is greater than ever. Now is not the time to cut funding #Invest3to6 http://bit.ly/1A3xSyY [click to tweet this!]
Senator David Perdue
- @sendavidperdue #21stCCLC provides 35,000+ youth in GA a safe & enriching place to go after school #Invest3to6 [click to tweet this!]
- @sendavidperdue #21stCCLC helps students succeed in college, careers, & life. 88% of GA parents support public funding for #afterschool [click to tweet this!]
- @sendavidperdue Demand for afterschool in GA is greater than ever. Now is not the time to cut funding #Invest3to6 http://bit.ly/1A3xSyY [click to tweet this!]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
