The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides millions of dollars in potential supports for afterschool and summer programs. Don’t let this opportunity slip by. Programs provide critical supports to struggling kids and families, create good jobs and make a solid investment in our future workforce. Putting these funds to work now not only helps us today, but also better positions afterschool efforts for future funding.
Here is a quick tip sheet on resources to tap, and who to talk to about:
• Direct funding for programs
• Summer and school year youth employment
• AmeriCorps staffing help
1. Talk to your principal, superintendent, Title I Coordinator or other local education agency and school officials about applying Title I recovery dollars to afterschool and summer programs. An additional $13 billion is being distributed to local education agencies for programs under Title I. Support for extended learning, including afterschool, summer and year-long programs, is encouraged in the guidance on this funding. This is a great point to share. Give examples of how afterschool and summer programs can help close the achievement gap.
The Administration has made clear that recovery dollars should help fuel reform, and that afterschool and summer programming is part of a reform vision. The U.S. Department of Education has said that states using Title 1 funds toward reform are better positioned to be awarded additional funds through the “Race to the Top” and “Innovation” grant programs.
2. Contact your state’s Child Care Development agency about contracting to provide slots for school-age children.
3. Contact your local workforce investment board (WIB) or youth council about applying for funding to employ youth this summer. The Act provides $1.2 billion for youth services, and the Department of Labor strongly recommends using these funds to create jobs for low-income youth. In addition, afterschool program activities that include focus on conservation, parks and recreation may be eligible to participate in a $750M competitive green jobs grant.
Funds might be used for internships, hiring eligible youth as staff; or provide a range of services from tutoring to job training and leadership development.
NOTE: If the application window has closed, ask the WIB for a list of participating summer programs. Contact those sites about creating a partnership. Also ask the WIB about the timeline for applying for funds for fall 2009 programs.
4. Contact existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area about placing Corps members in afterschool programs. or to explore whether any current afterschool program staff could qualify as Corps members, and ease pressures to lay off staff due to tight budgets. Go to the Corporation for National Service website on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and click on “National Service In Your State” to see existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area.
5. Look into securing a VISTA Volunteer. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as resources to help community organizations build up capacity. An additional 3,000 positions are available for new and existing sponsors. VISTA members are committed to a one year term of service. Apply directly to be a VISTA sponsor, or partner with local sponsors in your community to place a VISTA volunteer in your programs. Applications for VISTA grants are accepted throughout the year.
6. Reach out to your Mayor. Mayors have become very involved in ensuring that Recovery funds are being used to help their communities. Mayors also understand that afterschool programs can not only expand learning opportunities, but that they can help kids stay safe and healthy, and support struggling families. Reach out to your Mayor’s education policy staff and your city’s neighborhood and youth development staffs. Point out how afterschool can help a city meet today’s challenges while helping it build a strong foundation for tomorrow.
7. For more information, go to http://www.afterschoolalliance.org and http://www.afterschoolwiki.org for the latest news, official guidance, ideas and Q&A from the field about using recovery dollars to support afterschool programs
Additional Resources:
Summer Programming & Recovery funds: www.summerlearning.org
Dept of Education website on Recovery funds: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
Dept of Labor Recovery site: www.dol.gov/Recovery
Corp for Nat’l Service Recovery site: www.nationalservice.org/about/recovery/index.asp
Data on public support, benefits of afterschool: See Research, www.afterschoolalliance.org
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