24 August 2010

Dear Chairman Harkin and Vice Chairman Cochran,

We, the undersigned providers and advocates for high quality after school, summer, and expanded learning programs, write to express our thoughts on the fiscal year 2011 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Senate Appropriations Committee bill.  We greatly appreciate the substantial increase of $100 million for the 21st Century Community Learning Center program (21st CCLC) that will enhance the ability of local communities to provide more students with the academic enrichment they need to stay engaged and succeed in school.

We support the Committee’s intent to allow local flexibility in choosing how to use additional learning time before, after school, in the summer or to extend the school day, week or year. We commend the Senate for recognizing that students need more time and multiple ways to learn. As the after school community has demonstrated all over the country for many years, high quality expanded learning opportunities play a significant role in boosting students’ success.

While our first choice for addressing this shift in policy would be through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, if this shift in policy does occur in the Appropriations process, the 21st CCLC statutory language should be amended to ensure  that all expanded learning programs must be high quality, should build off and embrace the significant body of research and practice  in successful after school and summer learning programs, should be designed to meet specific student needs and deliver measurable results, and must involve community-based partners in order to differentiate approaches to student learning. Community based organizations bring a wealth of distinct approaches that support social and emotional growth, which is essential to academic achievement. Furthermore, community partners complement the instructional approaches of teachers by customizing experiences that build background knowledge and allow students to activate learning, while also building the foundational skills for success in school, college, and careers. 

The language also should clarify that local control over which model to implement is retained so that districts can make the best use of learning time, both mandatory and voluntary, and bridge the gap between the teacher’s work day and the student’s learning day. The report language should also be amended to reflect the new statutory intent.

Specifically, we believe the following policies must be included in the final appropriation language in order to effectively expand learning opportunities under the 21st CCLC program.

• Provide local options. Local communities should have full authority without state or federal preference or direction to make their own decisions about whether to use 21st CCLC for (1) before school, after school, or summer learning programs and/or (2) A redesign of the school day or year that includes the creative integration of academic enrichment strategies that build on effective after school and summer learning approaches.
• Ensure strong partnerships. Strong partnerships between schools and community partners should be required, and both CBOs and LEAs should continue to be eligible to apply for funds.
• Ensure high quality. Expanded learning programs should:

• deliver services through a variety of high-quality and effective strategies, including after-school, before school, summer and extended day, week or year, that integrate academics, enrichment and skill development through hands-on experiences that make learning relevant and engaging;
• complement, not replicate, the regular school day, by offering a range of activities that capture student interest and strengthen student engagement in learning, which promotes higher class attendance, reduces risk for retention or drop out, and increases chance for graduation;
• actively address the specific learning needs and interests of all students, especially those who may benefit from approaches and experiences not offered in the  traditional classroom  setting.

We support these policies because they are critical to ensuring high quality after school and expanded learning programs funded through the 21st CCLC.  Employing these policies will ensure students have not just for more time for learning, but the right kind of time: engaged learning time. As cited by the Education Sector, “the research shows that the correlation between time and student achievement gets stronger with more engaged time.”

Once again, we greatly appreciate your leadership and look forward to working with you to adopt these policies that will strengthen the 21st CCLC program for students across the country.   Please contact Jennifer Peck at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 510-830-4200 x1601, or Jessica Donner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 646-943-8738, if you would like further information or to set up a meeting to continue the conversation.

Sincerely,