The House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill passed this week with the following supports for afterschool programs:
- $2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Of this total, $255.2 million would be reserved for quality funding (this is above and beyond the required four percent set-aside for quality). The funds would be available through September 30, 2010.
- $11 billion under Title I to help in the education of disadvantaged students and $2 billion in School Improvement Grants to provide assistance to schools not making adequate yearly progress—some of these funds can be used to support afterschool programs.
- $400 million for the Social Service Block Grant, which states could use to support afterschool programs.
- $16 billion for school modernization to repair, renovate and construct public schools, with permissible use of funds including "broadening the use of school buildings to the community." Funding for this kind of infrastructure improvements will improve schools' and communities' facilities, which will indirectly help afterschool programs.
- $160 million for additional AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members. AmeriCorps members currently help staff many afterschool programs, and additional members could be a great resource for struggling afterschool programs.
- $79 billion for a State Stabilization Fund; 61 percent must be used for education, with the remainder used at the Governor's discretion for critical needs including public safety and other government services. Afterschool leaders and programs can make a case that some of these funds should support afterschool programs.
What's Next? The Senate will likely be voting on this bill in the next week or so and then, pending the passage of the House version, the two bodies will have to work out the differences in a conference report.
The ultimate goal is to send a final bill to President Obama by February 13, when Congress is scheduled to begin its Presidents' Day break.