Durbin Calls for Renewed Funding for After-School Programs Vital to Suburban Communities

DURBIN CALLS FOR RENEWED FUNDING FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS VITAL TO SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES

President's Budget Puts Programs in Jeopardy

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

[MUNDELEIN, IL] - After-school programs in Illinois and the kids they are intended to serve will be at risk if the cuts proposed by President Bush in his 2006 budget are approved by the Congress, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today.

Durbin is an inaugural member of the Senate After-School Caucus, a bipartisan group of Senators working to raise public awareness about the need for more after-school programs and increase resources for quality after-school care.

"More than a quarter of Illinois students in K through 12 are responsible for taking care of themselves after school," said Durbin. "The programs that were cut in President Bush's budget have been proven to be cost effective and successful. We need to find a way to keep those programs operating so kids' out of school time will be safe and productive."

21st Century Community Learning Centers was authorized as part of the No Child Left Behind law, however funding for the program has not increased since 2003 and the program has been under-funded since its inception. In fiscal year 2006, Illinois is slated to receive $41 million for after-school activities, rather than the $82 million that was promised in No Child Left Behind. That means Illinois will only be able to serve 58,600 children, instead of the 117,200 the state should be able to reach.

The Bush budget would also flat fund Child Care and Development Block Grants for the third straight year and severely cut Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities and other after-school funding streams.

Durbin, who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he intends to work to increase funding for after-school programs during the fiscal year 2006 appropriations process, which is just beginning.

http://durbin.senate.gov/releases.cfm