WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins has sent a letter to President
Bush recommending increased funding in the 2007 fiscal year budget for the
21st Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. Senator Collins joined
Senator Boxer of California in the effort, which has the full support of all
14 female Senators.
Senator Collins is calling on additional support for the 21st CLCC
program which will help meet the needs of children who go home to an empty
house after school.
"It is important to provide children with an after school program that
offers parents an option in providing a safe and enriching environment for
their children after the school bell rings," said Senator Collins.
The letter notes the importance of afterschool programs for keeping
children safe, reducing crime and drug use, and improving academic
performance. The 21st CCLC program provides important support for quality
afterschool programs and currently serves more than one million children
nationwide. Funding for the 21st CCLC program has been strongly supported by
the Afterschool Alliance, and Maine's Fight Crime Invest in Kids chapter.
The letter to the President is as follows:
January 3, 2006
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to urge you to support increased funding in your fiscal year
2007 budget proposal for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st
CCLC) so the program can grow, and the 15 million children who come home
afterschool to an empty house can have the option of high-quality, safe,
afterschool learning activities.
The federal afterschool program, which currently serves 1.3 million children,
is vital to children and families across America. Afterschool programs
provide safe and enriching environments for children after the end of the
school day.
Numerous studies confirm what parents and community leaders already know --
afterschool programs keep children safe, reduce crime and drug use, and
improve academic performance. In fact, according to the Rose Institute at
Claremont McKenna College, every $1 invested in afterschool programs saves
taxpayers $3 in increased performance and compensation and reduced school
costs and crime.
The demand for affordable, quality afterschool programs far exceeds the
availability of these programs. Mayors surveyed in 86 cities reported that
only one-third of the children needing afterschool care were receiving it.
The need for afterschool programs is even more acute in rural areas.
The 21st CCLC program has been level funded for five consecutive years. If
this trend continues, it will become more difficult for the 21st CCLC program
to meet the needs of the children currently served, and it will prevent the
program from growing to reach more children. For these reasons, we urge you
to propose an increase in funding for this vital program so that more
children can receive the proven benefits of quality afterschool programs.