[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 198 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60569-60570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26391]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 198 / Thursday, October 12, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 60569]]

                Proclamation 7353 of October 6, 2000

                
Afterschool Week, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Each weekday afternoon in America, the ringing of 
                school bells signals not just the end of the school 
                day, but also the beginning of a period when 8 to 15 
                million of our children are home alone. These so-called 
                ``latchkey'' children can be found in every American 
                community, whether urban, suburban, or rural; they are 
                the children of working parents who, for a variety of 
                reasons, are unable to arrange or afford a better 
                alternative. Not surprisingly, most juvenile crimes are 
                committed and most children are likely to become 
                victims of crime during the 5 or 6 hours immediately 
                after the school day ends.

                Providing appropriate supervision for children after 
                school is one of the more difficult challenges that 
                working parents face. Recognizing this, my 
                Administration has worked hard to provide parents with 
                alternative afternoon activities for their children. 
                Through our 21st Century Community Learning Centers 
                program, under the leadership of Education Secretary 
                Richard Riley, we are providing schools and community 
                organizations with funding to create and expand 
                learning opportunities for children in a drug-free, 
                supervised environment. This program enables schools to 
                stay open longer so that students have places to do 
                their homework, receive counseling about the dangers of 
                substance abuse, and participate with mentors in a wide 
                array of academic and recreational activities that 
                challenge their imagination and broaden their horizons.

                In the 4 years since we created the 21st Century 
                Community Learning Centers program, hundreds of 
                thousands of children across our country have enrolled 
                in safe and smart afterschool programs. My proposed 
                budget for fiscal 2001 will more than double the 
                Federal commitment to this program, enabling us to 
                reach as many as 2.5 million students next year. These 
                community learning centers provide America's parents 
                with the comforting assurance that, while they are out 
                earning a living, their children are participating in 
                engaging and constructive afterschool activities.

                To highlight the growing need for afterschool programs, 
                the Afterschool Alliance--a partnership of public, 
                private, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to 
                raising awareness and expanding resources for 
                afterschool programs--has announced a nationwide 
                project called ``Lights On Afterschool!'' On October 12 
                of this year, schools, community centers, museums, 
                libraries, and parks across the country will host 
                activities to inform families about the places 
                currently open to children after school and the need to 
                provide additional centers where children can 
                participate in engaging, stimulating activities until 
                their parents return from work.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim the week of October 8 to 
                October 14, 2000, as Afterschool Week. I encourage 
                parents, students, educators, community and business 
                leaders, and concerned citizens to participate in 
                ``Lights On Afterschool!'' activities on Thursday, 
                October 12. I also urge all Americans to recognize the 
                importance of providing afterschool

[[Page 60570]]

                programs in their communities to promote the safety and 
                well-being of our Nation's children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-26391
Filed 10-11-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P