On September 14th the House approved an amendment to restore $100 million of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) afterschool and summer learning funding that had been cut in the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act (H.R. 3354). It was a big win for families and educational agencies who had been working hard to ensure this necessary funding for our students was not lost. Different polls, such as the Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK) Poll of Public’s Attitudes Towards Public Schools, suggest that afterschool programs are considered a top priority for a lot of parents and a growing consensus across the nation, and party lines, seems to be that afterschool programs are not just important, but vital! 

To learn more about the history of 21st CCLC programs watch CofC’s Senior Fellow, Dr. Terry Peterson, discuss.