Latest news with #21stCenturyCommunityLearningCenter


Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
Washington state schools left waiting for $137M in federal funds
States are missing billions in federal education funding that was expected to be accessible on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. Why it matters: In Washington state, an estimated $137 million is being withheld, which amounts to 15.6% of the state's federal K–12 education funding, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The big picture: The Department of Education's funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. What they're saying: U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a prepared statement that education funding uncertainty has prompted districts to delay hiring and other initiatives. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said. Districts have "made programming and employment commitments with the assumption that they'd be receiving this funding," Washington state superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a written statement. Zoom out: Nationwide, an estimated $6.2 billion in K–12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. The other side: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions for this story to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." What we're watching: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside school hours — remain blocked, up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, the organization's president and CEO, Jim Clark, said in a statement.


Axios
2 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Summer and after-school programs at risk under Trump's K-12 funding hold
States across the U.S. are missing billions in federal education funding that was expected to be accessible on July 1 but has yet to be released by the Trump administration. The big picture: The Department of Education's funding delay has exacerbated the uncertainty for after-school, summer and other programs, leaving schools in limbo, advocates and policy experts say. The Education Department said in a last-minute notice that the funds would not be released while the programs were under review, according to the School Superintendents Association. By the numbers: An estimated $6.2 billion in K-12 funds across five programs remains unavailable, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies. That includes funding for after-school and summer learning through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, money to support migratory children, educator development funds and more. Zoom in: The Department of Education referred Axios' questions for this story to the Office of Management and Budget. An OMB spokesperson said no decisions have been made amid "an ongoing programmatic review of education funding." The spokesperson pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda." Threat level: If unreleased 21st Century Community Learning Center funds — the chief stream for academic enrichment outside of school hours — remains blocked, the "the fallout will be swift and devastating," Boys and Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark said in a statement. Up to 926 Boys and Girls Clubs could be forced to shut their doors, he said, and club sites and camps "could shutter mid-season — upending care for working parents and leaving kids without critical safety nets." Zoom out: Jodi Grant, the executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, described the withholding of funds as "a stunning betrayal," as states and territories had already committed money to after-school and summer learning programs. "Short term, [there are] a lot of very anxious programs and very anxious parents, because they don't know if their kids are going to be able to have after-school, but that will very quickly turn into programs reducing how many kids they can serve and or closing their doors," she told Axios. But she said "it's a long-term impact, no matter how you cut it," noting that Trump's 2026 budget proposed no funds for 21st CCLC, instead opting for a K-12 Simplified Funding Plan. Even if the funds do come back, she said, it will be much harder to recover, with ripple effects echoing throughout communities where such programs are necessary for children and working families. She emphasized that after-school programs have broad bipartisan support, and a majority of voters say they're a necessity for their communities. 21st CCLC serves nearly 1.4 million youth and their families through grants awarded by state education agencies, according to the Afterschool Alliance. What they're saying: Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement that education funding uncertainty has prompted districts to delay hiring and other initiatives. "Every day that this funding is held up is a day that school districts are forced to worry about whether they'll have to cut back on after-school programs or lay off teachers instead of worrying about how to make sure our kids can succeed," Murray said. Catch up quick: Advocates and educators were already concerned about summer and after-school programs being disrupted by cuts at the Department of Education and AmeriCorps.

Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wary of federal cuts, church backs off plans for after-school program expansion
Mar. 12—The rapid-fire cuts to federal spending are creating ripple effects across the nation, including at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville free after-school program for middle schoolers. Plans were to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, one focused on after-school programs that foster building skills and abilities for the next generation. The uncertainty surrounding federal funding for the Department of Education has caused church program directors to pull back on the application process that would have created not just a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program for middle- and high-schoolers in the community, but also tons of paperwork. "We were ready to take on that amount of work, but very nervous about the potential interruption in funding," said Matthew Blackburn, the director of youth ministries at FUMC. Prior to the government budget shake-up and questions about the Education Department's future, the program was designed to provide a three-year funding source as long as certain benchmarks were met. "We heard the news about federal cuts, reached out to our contacts in North Carolina and did not finish the application process," Blackburn said. FUMC has provided a free after-school program for middle schoolers for more than a decade. It's a place where students can get a snack, hang out, get help with homework or burn off excess energy after being cooped up in a classroom all day. In 2019, the program received grant funding, and holds an annual golf gala to help support the program expenses and staffing. The church started exploring the 21st Century grant option in 2023, something leaders felt positive about since there were no other recipients in the county. But with the uncertainty surrounding the program, Blackburn said the church decided to consolidate existing efforts and focus on other potential financial partners. Preparations for the 21st Century grant were not all lost, and some changes had already been put in place to ensure the program would qualify for the grant. To qualify, a more structured, learning-based program would need to be offered to those interested. The result was an option for three days of learning and two days of activities, with one usually involving volunteerism. "We grew our middle school program from one day a week to four days a week," Blackburn said. Monday is Circular Economy Day; Tuesday is Repair Day; Wednesday focuses on a combined cooking/Spanish class, and Thursday is horticulture day on the Haywood Community College campus. Scuttling the grant program means that the students will be reintegrated back into the original after-school program, and the enhanced opportunities will be gone unless other funding is found. The grant provided up to $150,000 a year, with staffing as the largest component. Going forward, middle school students in the program called Jounce-plus will be absorbed into the other middle school programming. The high school program will continue through the end of the school year and only reopen if funding is found. To learn more about the FUMC after school program, visit the church web site and click on the Youth tab.