In a recent email, the Afterschool Alliance warned that the “proposed ‘skinny’ budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026 appears to eliminate dedicated funding for afterschool and summer programs via 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and levies enormous cuts on the Department of Education and other agencies that support afterschool and summer programs and the youth and families they serve.”

According to the Afterschool Alliance, 21st CCLC supports thousands of local programs across the country, serving nearly 1.4 million children. The Alliance alleges that the proposal appears to eliminate 21st CCLC entirely or collapse it into a consolidated grant program. This consolidation would lump 18 programs together in a total fund of $2 billion to be provided to states.

The Afterschool Alliance notes that, “With $12 billion in cuts to education programs overall, the consolidation effectively eliminates 21st CCLC afterschool and summer program grants.”

They have developed the Afterschool Works for America website to help guide and inform advocates who would like to reach out to lawmakers about the proposed budget or other policies impacting afterschool and summer programming.

The Afterschool Alliance maintains THIS WEBSITE to capture and share the current, updated policy landscape for afterschool and summer programs. They also provide links to the America After 3pm Report and this robust repository for research related to afterschool and summer programs.

Sources: Afterschool Alliance, US Dept of Education