Afterschool Alliance: Dedicated funding for afterschool and summer learning programs must continue
Jodi Grant, Executive Director of Afterschool Alliance, released the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal.
“The FY 2027 budget proposal the Trump administration released once again eliminates dedicated funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the chief federal funding stream for afterschool and summer learning programs. Congress rejected that ill-advised, potentially devastating proposal last year and we will work tirelessly to ensure that Congress rejects it again. Afterschool programs are a lifeline for millions of children and families, and the country will suffer terribly if the federal government slashes funding for them through a woefully inadequate block grant to the states.
“Eliminating dedicated federal funding for 21st CCLC would have dire consequences. A significant number of afterschool and summer learning programs would be forced to close their doors. That, in turn, would mean more hungry kids, more children and youth unsupervised and at risk each afternoon, more academic failures and dropouts, more chronic absenteeism, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce now and in the future.
“Federal afterschool funding is already grossly inadequate. According to a 2025 household survey, the parents of 29.6 million children want afterschool programs for their children – but less than 7 million are currently enrolled. A national survey of afterschool providers released yesterday finds that 85% report there are children in their community who need afterschool programs and are unable to access them. It also finds sharp increases in concern about students’ overall well-being, including their mental health, access to food, and academics – all of which afterschool programs address.
“We will mobilize the afterschool community and the millions of parents and families, business and faith leaders, and others who support afterschool to convince Congress to reject the Trump administration’s short-sighted, irresponsible proposal and instead increase federal funding for afterschool and summer learning programs in FY 2027. This will not stand.”
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.