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 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...

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...

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

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 afterschool for ALL! 🎉 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

‼️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

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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

"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? ⚠️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...

$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...

"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

Do you know which federal funding streams currently #FundAfterschool in your state? A newly updated database from @fundourkids.bsky.social lets you see what funds your community is currently leveraging, explore potential funding sources, and more! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Last week, the House passed a massive budget bill with provisions in the legislation that could have a direct impact on youth, families, & OST. Learn more and take action now! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

1.4 million children across the United States at risk of losing their afterschool programs. Our new site afterschoolworksforamerica.org has the tools you need to make case to protect federal funding for afterschool. 💪 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools... #AfterschoolWorks

Good news alert! 💙 Despite federal budget concerns, several states are seeing increased investments in afterschool and summer! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

With 21st CCLC at risk, afterschool programs face uncertainty. “Hundreds of thousands of kids will lose a place to go after school,” says ourBRIDGE for KIDS ED & Afterschool Ambassador Sil Ganzo, whose program has a waitlist of 100+ students. @wcnc-charlotte.bsky.social www.wcnc.com/article/mone...

Two bills were introduced in the House and Senate last month that would improve access to nutritious meals for children after school. 🍎 Read more about Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act of 2025 and the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

The AFTER SCHOOL Act has just been reintroduced in Congress, and it would establish a new $15M, non-competitive formula grant program through the DOJ to help schools and non-profit organizations establish, maintain, and strengthen afterschool programs! www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

"I enjoy making a difference in the kids lives!" #AfterschoolWorks #moafterschool

Help protect nearly 1.4 million youth by taking 2 minutes to support their right to accessible, high-quality afterschool and summer programming. @afterschool4all.bsky.social @headstart.bsky.social 🔗 Visit our Linktree to ensure your voice and vote are heard!

"I'm worried that when it comes to cuts, unless we have a separate funding stream that explicitly goes to afterschool and summer, those programs get cut before any other education programs." www.axios.com/2025/04/22/t...

The President’s proposed budget for FY2026 appears to eliminate funding for 21st CCLC, the only federal funding stream dedicated to afterschool & summer programs. If we lose these programs, our kids and families will suffer. Take action: afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools... #AfterschoolWorks

Consolidating federal education funding into a single block grant could jeopardize the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which supports nearly 1.4 million students after school. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

89% of voters agree: Afterschool programs strengthen the economy! Why? Because having access to quality, affordable programs helps parents work more hours. What else do voters say about afterschool? Check it out: afterschoolalliance.org/documents/Vo...

Behind every great program is a dedicated Afterschool Professional. Next week, we’re shining a light on the 850,000+ afterschool professionals nationwide who make a profound difference every single day. 💙 naaweb.org/page/Aftersc... #HeartofAfterschool

The afterschool field mourns the passing of Nita M. Lowey, former House Appropriations Chairwoman & former House Afterschool Caucus Co-Chair. Her legacy lives on through the 21st CCLC program, ensuring 1.4M kids have opportunities to learn and grow.🤍 www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

91% of school superintendents say that summer programs are critical for achieving district goals! ☀️NSLA & @aasa.org surveyed superintendents to better understand the role these programs play in their districts & what availability looks like. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

89% of voters agree: Afterschool programs strengthen the economy! Why? Because having access to quality, affordable programs helps parents work more hours. What else do voters say about afterschool? Check it out: www.afterschoolalliance.org/documents/Vo...

BREAKING: Today, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order asking the Secretary of Education to take steps to close the U.S. Department of Education. See what this means for afterschool and how you can take action: www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

The Dept. of Education announced a reduction in force impacting nearly 50% of its workforce. However, funding for local OST programs through 21st CCLC, Title I, Title IV Part A, and FSCS will continue to be supported at the federal level. www.afterschoolalliance.org/afterschools...

Welcome to Policy Pulse! Every second Friday at 12pm ET, our team will recap the latest policy developments, what we know (or don’t know) about how they may impact afterschool, and what may be coming up next. Join us on Friday, March 14: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The countdown is on—#YouthVoiceWeek 2025 is just TWO WEEKS away! Youth are at the center of high-quality afterschool programs. From March 24-28, will you help us amplify their ideas, perspectives, and experiences? www.afterschoolalliance.org/youth-voices...