Afterschool Alliance

Making Afterschool & Summer Programs More Affordable for Millions of Families Banay & Grant: With federal funding less secure, providers, policymakers & philanthropies can help kids gain access to high-quality, enriching options.

Our new piece in @the74.bsky.social explores the growing demand for afterschool and summer programs, the challenge of balancing rising costs with affordability, and the role we can all play in making these opportunities available to more families! the74million.org/article/maki... #AfterschoolWorks

4 principles of strong advocacy 2025 was an astounding year for afterschool and summer advocates. While turbulent, challenging, and trying, the year also showed the power of using your voice, and bore the fruits of having a track

Young people and the afterschool programs that support them are why we do this work. Advocacy is how we protect, strengthen, and expand those opportunities for all kids.

In a new blog, we break down the four core tenets of strong advocacy. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Parents, advocates warn of after-school care crisis ABC News’ Elizabeth Schulze reports on the challenge some parents and caregivers face finding affordable care for kids after school.

Parents are facing an after school care crisis. Good Morning America highlights how states are stepping up—like Vermont, where cannabis sales tax revenue is funding programs for young people! www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/129666...

NEXT WEEK: A special episode of The STEM Talk you won’t want to miss! Our own Jodi Grant will break down a promising new federal tax credit–based funding opportunity for out-of-school time programs! Register now to learn more! tiesteach-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

After-school care crisis Federal funding cuts to after-school programs are leaving many families without affordable, safe care options when the school day ends.

Good Morning America covers the after-school care crisis. Our own Jodi Grant and CEO & 2026 Afterschool Ambassador Paula Fynboh paint a picture of the harsh reality families face in finding safe, affordable, and convenient programs for their kids. www.goodmorningamerica.com/video/129630...

Treasury and IRS reviewing public comments on the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship With the recent release of America After 3 PM, we know demand for afterschool is high and American families, especially those with low and middle incomes, are finding it harder to access and afford

A new federal tax credit scholarship could help more kids access afterschool and summer learning programs! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Federal child care freeze brings new challenges for parents of school-age children Update: January 13, 2026: According to reports from Child Care Aware of America, state administrative agencies have now received notice of the additional requirements under the

The new year began with concerning news for families and child care providers: a freeze on federal Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF). Here's what we know. ⬇️https://www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschoolsnack/Federal-child-care-freeze-brings-new-challenges-for-parents-of_01-06-2026.cfm

New York City shares preliminary plan to scale towards universal afterschool The plan to enroll 20,000 new students in afterschool by 2027 is already underway in New York City. Building on the 5,000 city-funded seats introduced this September, the city now has a preliminary

New York City shares preliminary plan to scale towards afterschool for ALL! 🎉 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

New funding opportunities to kick off 2026 As we kick off 2026, we're excited to share four funding opportunities that support afterschool and summer programs! Community Collaboration Challenge | Deadline: January 16,

‼️New year funding alert ‼️

New funding opportunities for afterschool just dropped—from grants for middle school–serving programs to $1 million for K–12 youth with big, bold ideas.

Explore what's available and what grants you may be eligible for! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

We’re honored to share that the Afterschool Alliance has been selected as a finalist for Best in Nonprofit in the #PRWeekAwardsUS!
www.prweek.com/article/1942...

The latest policy news and resources for afterschool programs all in one place? Yes please!

Check out our newly updated Current Policy Page: www.afterschoolalliance.org/policy-curre...

Help continue to tell the story of the impact of afterschool. Please take a moment to share how your program serves your community & what you need to better serve young people. Submit here: 3to6.co/survey 50 respondents will win a $50 gift card! @afterschool4all.bsky.social

CLOSING SOON: Share your experiences as an afterschool provider and help us inform decision-makers on the needs of programs like yours! Take the survey before November 24 and you'll be entered to win a $50 gift card: 3to6.co/survey @afterschool4all.bsky.social

New agreement moves core functions of 21st Century Community Learning Centers to Dept of Labor On November 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced six new interagency agreements with the Departments of Labor (DOL), Interior, Health and Human Services, and Department of State

On Nov. 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced six new interagency agreements — including one that would shift core functions of 21st Century Community Learning Centers to the Department of Labor. Here’s what that could mean for programs. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Shut Out: Inequitable Access to After School Programs Grows More than 22 million children — mostly from low-income and families of color — face barriers to care after 3 p.m., according to a new report.

At 18, a young boy asked Manny Padia to be his father — a moment that showed him the life-changing impact of afterschool programs. But new #AA3PM data shows 22.6M youth are missing out on programs like his.

Read more from @the74.bsky.social: www.the74million.org/article/shut...

Federal shutdown week 5: SNAP and Head Start impacts grow This blog was updated on October 30 to reflect additional information on the impact of the shutdown. As we begin week 5 of federal government shutdown, there remains little sign of a strategy to

UPDATE: We’re entering week 5 of the federal shutdown, with little sign of progress toward reopening or passing a continuing resolution for FY2026. The impacts are mounting — from meal access to Head Start to programs serving Native communities. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

America Stands Up For Afterschool YouTube video by Afterschool Alliance

The fierce advocacy of afterschool programs, parents, leaders, and supporters — like you — this summer helped win the release of $1.3B in funding for 21st CCLC.

See how you kept the #LightsOnAfterschool for 1.4 million kids this year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Nt...

The wait is over — the new #AA3PM report is here!

Since 2004, the #AA3PM study has provided a comprehensive view into how young people spend the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. You can now explore fifth edition of the report at aa3pm.co!

OMB releases remaining education Title funding, AmeriCorps funding still withheld On July 25, the Trump Administration and U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced they would soon release education funding that states had expected on July 1. Normally, a large portion of federal

BREAKING NEWS: The Trump Administration and
U.S. Department of Education announced that they would soon release the remaining education Title funding that was due to states! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Release of 21st CCLC funding imminent The Administration announced today that the 21st CCLC funds will be released to state education agencies, allowing afterschool and summer programs to resume. The announcement comes eighteen days

BREAKING NEWS: The Trump Administration announced that 21st CCLC funds will be released to state education agencies NEXT WEEK, allowing local afterschool and summer programs to resume! 💪 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

OMB withholds summer and afterschool funding for the 2025/2026 school year The federal government is withholding states’ 21st Century Community Learning Center (21stCCLC) funding for local afterschool and summer programs for the 2025/2026 school year. These funds were

BREAKING: 10,000 afterschool and summer programs could close their doors as federal government withholds 21st CCLC funding for the 2025/26 school year.

🚨1.4M children are at risk of losing their programs as soon as this summer. DEMAND FUNDS BE RELEASED: www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and give working parents peace of mind – but budget cuts could lead to widespread program closures, leaving 1.4 million youth without a place to go after school. Take action! AfterschoolWorksforAmerica.org @afterschool4all.bsky.social

New issue brief out! Building healthy habits and healthy futures: How afterschool programs are supporting physical activity and healthy eating On the heels of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, a new Afterschool Alliance issue brief dedicated to celebrating the vital role afterschool and summer programs play in keeping young people

As the most recent “Make America Healthy Again” report calls out a decline in physical activity as a significant issue affecting the health of young people in America, afterschool and #summerlearning programs are stepping up! 💪 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Key principles at the heart of quality expanded learning programs One of the remarkable qualities of the afterschool field is its unique ability to be flexible and responsive to the specific needs of the young people and communities being served. A year-round

What do expanded learning programs have in common? A new brief dives into the 10 key principles essential to ensuring high-quality, consistent learning opportunities for young people outside of the school day. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Boys & Girls Club of Rochester at risk of closing down to due federal funding cuts In a proposed budget plan, Congress is aiming to eliminate a program that supports after-school and summer programs.

Proposed funding cuts to 21st CCLC could force afterschool programs to shut down completely—including the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester. The impact on kids would be devastating, "I feel sad...it’s like a place that feels like a home away from home." www.kttc.com/2025/06/23/b...

After-school programs, a boon for learning, could face Trump cuts Schools in Maine have been at the center of a political battle with the Trump administration. Now, many fear after-school programs, critical for low-income communities, could be lost.

"This should be last on the list of things to be cut." In rural Maine, students are exploring global cuisines, applying STEM to develop recipes, and meeting academic goals. But proposed federal cuts threaten this afterschool program.

npr.org/2025/05/27/n...
@npr.org

It's been one week since the details were released on the President's FY2026 budget, which zeroed out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Read the full statement from Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. afterschoolalliance.org/press_archiv... #AfterschoolWorks

What Schools Do When Parents Don't Pick Up Their Kids What schools do when parents don't pick up their kids can vary considerably, according to a new survey by the EdWeek Research Center.

What schools do when parents don’t pick up their kids?

⚠️75% say staff wait with kids until parents arrive
⚠️25% say students are sent to an afterschool program
⚠️18% call the police
Our kids need and deserve safe spaces to go after the school day ends. www.edweek.org/leadership/w...

FY 2026 Budget Proposal details released: Administration eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer The President’s proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026 would zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding stream dedicated to

$0 for 21st CCLC. What happens next? This weekend, the President's FY2026 budget proposal eliminated the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool & summer programs. As Congress crafts the spending legislation, make the call to your reps! afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

An after-school program in Trump’s backyard struggles to survive DOGE cuts Seven miles from the White House, a Northern Virginia nonprofit serving low-income families lost funding for more than a dozen teachers hired through AmeriCorps.

"Why are they doing this? Why are they taking this away from me?”

As federal budget cuts loom, afterschool programs—and the young people who count on them—are already feeling the impact. washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202... @washingtonpost.com