[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 33 (Thursday, February 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1378-S1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS INITIATIVE

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I express my support for the 21st 
Century Community Learning Centers, 21st CCLC, initiative, the only 
Federal funding source dedicated to supporting successful afterschool 
programs around the country. This program is critical to our children's 
and our economy's success.
  For many American families, it is necessary for both parents to work 
outside the home, and these families face true challenges in finding 
affordable childcare services. This is a problem not only for parents 
of infants and toddlers too young to go to school, but also for parents 
of school-age children who would otherwise be left unsupervised in 
those critical hours between the end of the schoolday and the end of 
the workday. In Maryland, 25 percent of children in grades K-12 are 
responsible for taking care of themselves after school. Studies show 
that millions of children around our Nation are left on their own after 
school to devastating effects.
  Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have concluded that two-
thirds of the achievement gap between lower and higher income youth can 
be explained by unequal access to out-of-school activities, especially 
during the summer months. This unequal access creates a gap that begins 
in elementary school and accumulates over the years. It results in 
unequal placements in college preparatory tracks and increases the 
chance that children from low-income families will drop out of high 
school.
  The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile 
crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and sex. 
Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three 
times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They 
are also three times more likely to engage in risky and self-
destructive behaviors.
  Parents who have difficulty securing reliable afterschool care miss 
an average of 8 days of work per year, and studies have shown that 
decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about 
afterschool care costs businesses up to $300 billion each year.
  Recognizing the benefits of quality afterschool activities, Congress 
created the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, which 
provides states with grant money to facilitate their efforts to provide 
children with quality afterschool social, academic, and other 
enrichment activities. The program's results have been dramatic.
  In the 2004-2005 school year, 59 percent of regular attendees 
attained Federal proficiency levels or better in reading and language 
arts and 54 percent of regular attendees attained Federal proficiency 
levels or better in math. Teachers reported that a majority of 
participating students improved in every category of behavior. The 
categories with the highest percentages of student improvement were 
academic performance, completing homework to the teacher's 
satisfaction, class participation, and turning in homework on time.
  A study conducted in Maryland's Anne Arundel County school district 
revealed that CCLC participants missed fewer days in school and 
achieved higher proficiency ratings in reading and math. Also, teachers 
perceived increases in students' overall achievement in school and 
their confidence in learning. Children attending

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23 or more days of Maryland's After School Opportunity Fund Program 
showed greater gains on such measures as commitment to education and 
academic performance, and a reduction in delinquency.
  According to a 2005 Manhattan Institute study, only one-third of 
American high school graduates are prepared for college. Our students 
are falling further behind in math, science, engineering, and other 
areas critical for success in the 21st century economy. The hours 
between 3 and 6 p.m. do not need to be peak hours for juvenile crime 
and dangerous experimentation. The afterschool hours can be and must be 
a time when our kids learn new skills, develop relationships with 
caring adults, and prepare for the future.
  One program in Marriotsville, MD, is doing just that. In a reversal 
of roles, tech savvy students at Marriotts Ridge High School offer 
afterschool instruction in Photoshop, game design, Web design, 
Microsoft Office, and other programs to members of the community. The 
principal has raved about walking down his school's halls and seeing 
his students conduct workshops for individuals ranging from middle-
schoolers through senior citizens. How impressive that these students 
are given the opportunity to master this technology and then develop 
the confidence and leadership necessary to teach it to others. What a 
benefit to these students and to that Maryland community!
  So I was extremely disappointed, as were many of my colleagues, to 
see that President Bush's fiscal year 2009 budget proposal cuts funding 
for 21st Century Community Learning Centers by $300 million next year. 
If his proposal were enacted, 300,000 students nationwide would lose 
access to afterschool programs. Maryland alone would lose one-third of 
its funding, which would translate to a loss of services for 5,000 
children.
  The President also wants to turn the grant program into a voucher 
program. Currently, States review programs in a thorough, competitive 
process and award multi-year funding to the best proposals. These long-
term grants allow programs to plan, grow, develop partnerships, and 
hire quality staff. Parents are able to choose among various programs 
for their children. By contrast, a voucher program would give the money 
to parents rather than the States, eliminating the funding stability 
that is so critical to developing high-quality programs.
  The President's proposal is unwise in two respects. In the short 
term, it would eliminate many parents' access to afterschool care. In 
the long term, it would undermine the quality of those programs that 
survive. David Kass, the president of a national nonprofit anticrime 
organization called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, has said, ``Law 
enforcement leaders across the country agree: this [proposal] threatens 
public safety.''
  Mr. President, I hope that my colleagues will reject the 
administration's proposal and continue to support the 21st Century 
Community Learning Centers.

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