K–12 Simplified Funding Program (K–12 SFP)

K–12 Simplified Funding Program (K–12 SFP) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education. Consolidates multiple K–12 education programs into a single state formula grant, allowing flexibility in supporting activities like well-rounded education and safe schools.

FY 2026 Budget Proposal details released: Administration eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 April 2009 FY 2026 Budget Proposal details released: Administration eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer FY 2026 Budget Proposal details released: Administration eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer Peterson Posted: May 31, 2025 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 afterschool and summer programs.

21st CCLC funds support thousands of local programs serving nearly 1. 4 million children across the nation. The full budget proposal , released the evening of May 30, 2025, details the Administration’s proposal to consolidate 21st CCLC with 17 other K-12 grant programs within the Department of Education and cut funding for those programs by 69%.

This proposal would eliminate the federal government’s only dedicated funding to support students through quality, local afterschool and summer learning programs. It is now the job of Congress to craft spending legislation. Read a statement from our Executive Director, Jodi Grant.

Tell Congress to protect kids afterschool and keep funding for 21st CCLC The proposed budget cuts Department of Education funding by an unprecedented $12. 4 billion (15. 6%), to $66.

7 billion. In addition to eliminating 21st CCLC, the newly proposed K-12 Simplified Funding Plan eliminates funding for the Supporting Effective Teachers (Title II); Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (Title IV, Part A) which can be used for afterschool STEM programs and whole child supports, Statewide Family Engagement Centers, Education for homeless children and youths, Arts in Education, Rural Education, and more.

The new Simplified Funding Plan would be funded at $2 billion and would force state and local education agencies to collectively cut $4. 5 billion in existing funds. The budget proposal claims the consolidation will remove “the unnecessary administrative burdens imposed under current law.

” In addition to drastic cuts, the consolidation eliminates many of the unique benefits of targeted afterschool funding including the ability for community and faith based organization applicants to apply for program funding, the emphasis on local priorities and local needs, accountability, and support for students and working families in the hours that school is out.

Currently 21st CCLC funding supports programs in every state and territory, under the Administration's proposal the dedicated funding for afterschool and summer programs would cease to exist. View this map to see how the proposed cut could impact your state. Afterschool and summer programs keep kids safe and engaged and help them reach their full potential.

They are a lifeline for working parents. Parents and students choose to attend 21 st CCLC afterschool and summer learning programs that are provided by nonprofit and faith-based organizations in addition to schools, charter schools, cities and towns, universities, public libraries and museums.

Kids in afterschool: Make gains in math and reading Are more likely to graduate Have higher incomes with better jobs as adults Learn more about the evidence base for afterschool and 21st CCLC , as well as the wide range of positive outcomes these programs have. If we lose local afterschool and summer programs, kids, families and communities will suffer. The Afterschool Alliance has launched a campaign, AfterschoolWorksforAmerica.

org , to showcase the value of afterschool and engage the public in preserving federal afterschool and summer program funding. The budget proposal would have a wide-ranging impact on federal support for afterschool and summer learning programs, which go beyond the proposal to eliminate dedicated afterschool funding.

Based on the detailed FY 2026 budget proposals for the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies, the field will see a range of impacts: Title IV Part B Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers : $0, a cut of $1. 329 billion from the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution level.

This is the largest funding stream exclusively for afterschool and summer learning and provides nearly 1. 4 million students with quality programming outside of the school day.

By eliminating and collapsing 21st CCLC into the K-12 Simplified Funding Plan that goes to local school districts; existing grantees that are nonprofits, faith-based organizations, universities, park and recreation departments, libraries, museums, and other non school providers, would no longer be able to secure 21st CCLC grants. Title I Part A Grants to Local Education Agencies: $18.

407 billion for Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to close opportunity and achievement gaps in our nation's schools and help schools sustain programs that support students' academic recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, level with FY 2025. Schools can spend Title I funds on afterschool and summer learning programs.

Title IV Part F Full Service Community Schools: $0, a cut of $150 million, eliminating the program, resulting in a loss of important competitive grants that provide comprehensive services and expand evidence-based models to meet the holistic needs of children, families, and communities. Out-of-school time programs are a key element of community schools.

Title IV Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: $0, cutting the programs by $1. 38 billion. The program, which funds school districts to provide students with a well-rounded education, ensure safe and supportive learning environments, and use technology to improve instruction, would be eliminated and collapsed into the K-12 Simplified Funding Plan.

Allowable uses for the grant include support for afterschool STEM activities. Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $0, cutting the program by $129 million and eliminating the program by collapsing it into the K-12 Simplified Funding Plan.

This program, which is authorized by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, provides formula grants to States, which then subgrant most funds to LEAs for services and activities that help children experiencing homelessness enroll in, attend, and succeed in school, such as preschool programs, enriched supplemental instruction, before- and afterschool programs, transportation, and health care referrals.

Education, Innovation, and Research (EIR): $0, cutting the program from $259 million. The program would be eliminated. EIR funds have been used in past years for STEM education as well as evidence-based, field-initiated innovations that address student social and emotional learning needs.

Title II-A Funds for Teacher Professional Development: $0, a cut of $2. 19 billion. The program which supports training for teachers as well as informal educators would be eliminated and collapsed into the K-12 Simplified Funding Plan.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program: $0, a cut of $75 million and an elimination of the program. The CCAMPIS program helps to ensure that student parents with low incomes enroll in, persist in, and complete postsecondary education by helping to meet their needs for affordable and convenient child care. TRIO and GEAR UP: $0, eliminating the $1.

57 billion that currently provides services to encourage underserved individuals to enroll in and complete college and postgraduate education. These programs assist middle and high school students in preparing for college through Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) often during out of school time. Career, Technical Education (CTE): $1.

44 billion proposed, level with last year’s funding for the Perkins V CTE program, state grants. The request would continue to support the Administration’s policy to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce development to align with our country’s reindustrialization needs and equip American workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other occupations.

New program proposed: The proposed K–12 Simplified Funding Program (K–12 SFP) would consolidate eighteen currently funded formula and competitive grant programs for elementary and secondary education into a single State formula grant program. In theory states and localities would have flexibility to use K–12 SFP funds for any number of elementary and secondary education activities, consistent with the needs of their communities.

According to the budget proposal this includes “increasing educational options for students within and across schools, strengthening instruction in core academic subjects, and promoting patriotic education.

” By creating a single formula grant program that reflects a 69 percent funding cut, state and local districts will be put into the position of having to eliminate existing, critical supports for students, including afterschool and summer programs. And in the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies: Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $8. 747 billion, level with FY 2025 Continuing Resolution funding.

Approximately 44% of those receiving CCDBG funds are school aged (5 to age 13). Approximately 600,000 school-age children each month receive Child Care Development Fund assistance for their participation in before-school, afterschool, summer programming or in school-age childcare, with 73% of those served in center-based settings.

STEM Education: Informal Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education funding is dispersed in a number of places throughout the federal budget. Many STEM programs in afterschool settings are made possible because of partnerships, funding, resources, and mentors from the various science mission agencies in the federal government.

The informal education programs within agencies like NASA, NSF, and NOAA were all impacted by proposed funding cuts: NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) is zeroed out in the budget request and the National Science Foundation's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) takes a 75% cut compared to the FY24 level.

In particular, the Advancing Informal STEM Education (AISL) program, a dedicated funding stream for informal science learning at NSF is zeroed out. Our blog, Budget details confirm scope of cuts to afterschool STEM education , contains more details. AmeriCorps: The budget plans for the elimination of the Corporation for National Service, providing $32 million for the orderly closure of AmeriCorps.

The FY 2026 budget proposal would eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service, which operates as AmeriCorps. This would result in a significant cut, potentially eliminating 71,000 AmeriCorps service positions. AmeriCorps and VISTA are a key asset for hundreds of afterschool programs.

Earlier this year the AmeriCorps agency sent notifications terminating nearly $400 million in grant program funding. Department of Labor Youth Activities: $0, a cut of $948 million eliminating youth activity funding. Overall, the budget proposal cuts Department of Labor funding by $4.

6 billion (35%) and consolidates and cuts funding for workforce development. The budget proposes to create a new workforce grant program named “Make America Skilled Again” that combines several programs and cuts funding by $2. 5 billion (44%).

In FY 2025, the Department of Labor grants supported a wide range of activities and services to prepare low-income youth for academic and employment success, including summer and year-round jobs. The program links academic and occupational learning with youth development activities. YouthBuild is also proposed for elimination.

Institute of Museum and Library Services: $0, agency is proposed for elimination. The Administration has focused on trying to lay off and withdraw funding for IMLS in previous actions earlier this year. Youth Mentoring Initiative: $43 million for youth mentoring grants which is a $52 million decrease from the FY 2025 level of $95 million.

The Youth Mentoring program is housed within the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. These funds include support for mentoring programs taking place through afterschool and summer learning programs.

The FY 2026 appropriations process now moves to Congress where House and Senate Appropriations Committees will determine the funding levels for all federal government programs including afterschool and summer learning through 21st CCLC. The Afterschool Alliance has launched a campaign, AfterschoolWorksforAmerica.

org , to spread the word about the necessity of afterschool and engage the public in saving afterschool and summer program funding. Since the President's skinny budget proposal came out on May 2, more than 37,400 emails were sent to Congress in support of afterschool and summer programs.

With the full budget now confirming that 21st CCLC funding is proposed for elimination, you can reach out to Congress now to explain the value and importance of programs to your community and family.

FY27 Appropriations update: Competing Continuing Resolutions pass as August recess begins With the House and Senate in recess for the rest of the month of August, it’s a good time for an update on the status of the FY2027 appropriations process. The federal current fiscal year...

Newly-introduced bipartisan STRONG Kids Act could expand access to sports-based youth development Last week, Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) introduced the Sports Training, Recreation, and Opportunities for the Next Generation Act (H. R. 9839).

Also... Workforce Pell goes live: What this means for afterschool and summer learning Workforce Pell is a new provision in the federal budget reconciliation law enacted last year that, for the first time, allows Pell Grants to help pay for short-term workforce training.

Interagency agreements, explained: Congress takes opposing paths An interagency agreement, or IAA, is how the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has been shifting day-to-day administration of specific programs to other federal agencies, without changing the...

Bipartisan bill would strengthen mentoring and afterschool programs A new bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced on July 16, 2026, could help afterschool and youth development programs recruit more mentors, volunteers, and community leaders. The Building Community...

State funding recap for 2026 With most state legislatures having passed their state budgets for the next fiscal year, we can examine how afterschool and summer programs received support in these state budgets. We saw modest, but... Bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act introduced in the House This week, a bipartisan group of representatives led by Rep.

Ryan Mackenzie along with Reps. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Mich.) , Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), and Susie Lee (D-Nevada) introduced the Child Care Modernization Act.

The legislation would update the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/12/26 Proposed OMB changes to federal grant rule could impact afterschool and summer learning programs On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance that would make significant changes to the “uniform guidance” that governs federal grant management and the use of federal funds. These proposed...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 06/11/26 FY27 education spending bill passes House subcommittee, maintains afterschool funding UPDATE: June 10, 2026: Late in the day on June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a partisan vote of 34 to 28. The Senate is now expected to take up their FY27 Labor...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/05/26 Department of Education finalizes Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness Priorities On April 13, the Department of Education finalized the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness. In connection with the final priority, the Department also released a Career Pathways Exploration Grant with applications due June 9.

BY: Jillian Luchner 05/28/26 New legislation authorizes $10 billion a year for afterschool and summer learning This month, Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with 9 other members of Congress, introduced the Afterschool for All Act (HR 8654). The Afterschool for All Act is new legislation that would authorize $10 billion in federal funding annually for 10 years for the 21st...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/12/26 Where things stand: FY2027 Appropriations Update As Congress works through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) appropriations, afterschool and summer learning programs are once again drawing broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. From Senate testimony to House spending debates, Members on both sides of the aisle are reaffirming the critical role these...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 05/05/26 Providers participating in child care subsidies show distinct offerings and needs in recent provider survey Edge Research conducted a survey of over 1,000 afterschool providers between October and December 2025, as part of a wave of surveys the Afterschool Alliance has conducted since 2020. Overall, the survey found providers worried about program sustainability and the potential of losing funding, many...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/30/26 Congress proposes changes to federal child care legislation with aim to support program integrity In March, Congress turned its attention to federal child care funding integrity, considering proposals to modify the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the guiding law for spending Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF). The terms CCDBG and CCDF are often used...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/20/26 28 years of impact: 21st CCLC advancing afterschool and summer learning for millions of youth and families Congress has maintained funding for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program for Fiscal Year 2026 at the current level of $1. 329 billion.

This reaffirms a strong, bipartisan federal commitment to afterschool and summer learning nationwide. The investment ensures...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 04/07/26 Administration’s FY 2027 “Skinny” Budget Proposal released: Eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer The President’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, which would support education programs from summer 2027 through the end of the 2027-2028 school year, proposes to zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/03/26 Bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act introduced in the House This week, a bipartisan group of representatives led by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie along with Reps. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Mich.)

, Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), and Susie Lee (D-Nevada) introduced the Child Care Modernization Act. The legislation would update the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/12/26 Proposed OMB changes to federal grant rule could impact afterschool and summer learning programs On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance that would make significant changes to the “uniform guidance” that governs federal grant management and the use of federal funds. These proposed...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 06/11/26 FY27 education spending bill passes House subcommittee, maintains afterschool funding UPDATE: June 10, 2026: Late in the day on June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a partisan vote of 34 to 28. The Senate is now expected to take up their FY27 Labor...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/05/26 New legislation authorizes $10 billion a year for afterschool and summer learning This month, Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with 9 other members of Congress, introduced the Afterschool for All Act (HR 8654). The Afterschool for All Act is new legislation that would authorize $10 billion in federal funding annually for 10 years for the 21st...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/12/26 House Education and Workforce Committee advances workforce bill On April 21, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed H. R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, by a vote of 19-14, along party lines.

This partisan legislation seeks to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the primary federal law governing our... BY: Leslie Brooks 05/08/26 Where things stand: FY2027 Appropriations Update As Congress works through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) appropriations, afterschool and summer learning programs are once again drawing broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

From Senate testimony to House spending debates, Members on both sides of the aisle are reaffirming the critical role these...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 05/05/26 Congress proposes changes to federal child care legislation with aim to support program integrity In March, Congress turned its attention to federal child care funding integrity, considering proposals to modify the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the guiding law for spending Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF). The terms CCDBG and CCDF are often used...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/20/26 28 years of impact: 21st CCLC advancing afterschool and summer learning for millions of youth and families Congress has maintained funding for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program for Fiscal Year 2026 at the current level of $1. 329 billion.

This reaffirms a strong, bipartisan federal commitment to afterschool and summer learning nationwide. The investment ensures...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 04/07/26 Administration’s FY 2027 “Skinny” Budget Proposal released: Eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer The President’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, which would support education programs from summer 2027 through the end of the 2027-2028 school year, proposes to zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/03/26 Workforce Pell: Expanding pathways from afterschool to careers As policymakers on both sides of the aisle look for ways to strengthen the nation’s workforce and expand economic opportunity, Workforce Pell has emerged as a key provision in the budget reconciliation bill H. R. 1 which passed this summer.

On March 9, the Department of Education issued a... BY: Steven Ramdilal 04/02/26 Bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act introduced in the House This week, a bipartisan group of representatives led by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie along with Reps.

Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Mich.) , Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), and Susie Lee (D-Nevada) introduced the Child Care Modernization Act. The legislation would update the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/12/26 Summer learning advocates share America After 3PM data, personal stories in Senate briefing On Wednesday, June 10, the Senate Afterschool Caucus hosted a briefing for Congressional staff, Summer Learning & Afterschool: Supporting Students and Families Year-Round. The briefing spoke to the impact and importance of summer learning programs and detailed the recently...

BY: Jillian Luchner 06/12/26 FY27 education spending bill passes House subcommittee, maintains afterschool funding UPDATE: June 10, 2026: Late in the day on June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a partisan vote of 34 to 28. The Senate is now expected to take up their FY27 Labor...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/05/26 New legislation authorizes $10 billion a year for afterschool and summer learning This month, Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with 9 other members of Congress, introduced the Afterschool for All Act (HR 8654). The Afterschool for All Act is new legislation that would authorize $10 billion in federal funding annually for 10 years for the 21st...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/12/26 House Education and Workforce Committee advances workforce bill On April 21, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed H. R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, by a vote of 19-14, along party lines.

This partisan legislation seeks to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the primary federal law governing our... BY: Leslie Brooks 05/08/26 Where things stand: FY2027 Appropriations Update As Congress works through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) appropriations, afterschool and summer learning programs are once again drawing broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

From Senate testimony to House spending debates, Members on both sides of the aisle are reaffirming the critical role these...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 05/05/26 Congress proposes changes to federal child care legislation with aim to support program integrity In March, Congress turned its attention to federal child care funding integrity, considering proposals to modify the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the guiding law for spending Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF). The terms CCDBG and CCDF are often used...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/20/26 Administration’s FY 2027 “Skinny” Budget Proposal released: Eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer The President’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, which would support education programs from summer 2027 through the end of the 2027-2028 school year, proposes to zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/03/26 Bipartisan legislation reintroduced to support young entrepreneurs On March 23, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) reintroduced the bipartisan 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act which seeks to connect students enrolled in 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) with mentors from the Service Corps of Retired...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/30/26 New bipartisan legislation would incentivize partnerships to increase access to afterschool On January 15, the bipartisan Afterschool Access Through Charitable Contributions for Enrichment and Student Support (ACCESS) Act (Afterschool ACCESS Act) was introduced by Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.) with a goal of increasing access to afterschool...

BY: Erik Peterson 01/30/26 Summer learning advocates share America After 3PM data, personal stories in Senate briefing On Wednesday, June 10, the Senate Afterschool Caucus hosted a briefing for Congressional staff, Summer Learning & Afterschool: Supporting Students and Families Year-Round. The briefing spoke to the impact and importance of summer learning programs and detailed the recently...

BY: Jillian Luchner 06/12/26 Proposed OMB changes to federal grant rule could impact afterschool and summer learning programs On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance that would make significant changes to the “uniform guidance” that governs federal grant management and the use of federal funds. These proposed...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 06/11/26 FY27 education spending bill passes House subcommittee, maintains afterschool funding UPDATE: June 10, 2026: Late in the day on June 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a partisan vote of 34 to 28. The Senate is now expected to take up their FY27 Labor...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/05/26 New legislation authorizes $10 billion a year for afterschool and summer learning This month, Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with 9 other members of Congress, introduced the Afterschool for All Act (HR 8654). The Afterschool for All Act is new legislation that would authorize $10 billion in federal funding annually for 10 years for the 21st...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/12/26 Where things stand: FY2027 Appropriations Update As Congress works through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) appropriations, afterschool and summer learning programs are once again drawing broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. From Senate testimony to House spending debates, Members on both sides of the aisle are reaffirming the critical role these...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 05/05/26 Providers participating in child care subsidies show distinct offerings and needs in recent provider survey Edge Research conducted a survey of over 1,000 afterschool providers between October and December 2025, as part of a wave of surveys the Afterschool Alliance has conducted since 2020. Overall, the survey found providers worried about program sustainability and the potential of losing funding, many...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/30/26 28 years of impact: 21st CCLC advancing afterschool and summer learning for millions of youth and families Congress has maintained funding for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program for Fiscal Year 2026 at the current level of $1. 329 billion.

This reaffirms a strong, bipartisan federal commitment to afterschool and summer learning nationwide. The investment ensures...

BY: Steven Ramdilal 04/07/26 Administration’s FY 2027 “Skinny” Budget Proposal released: Eliminates dedicated funding for afterschool and summer The President’s proposed “skinny” budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, which would support education programs from summer 2027 through the end of the 2027-2028 school year, proposes to zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), the only federal funding...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/03/26 Bipartisan legislation reintroduced to support young entrepreneurs On March 23, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) reintroduced the bipartisan 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act which seeks to connect students enrolled in 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) with mentors from the Service Corps of Retired...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/30/26 Proposed changes to federal grant system could impact funding for local programs Earlier this winter, the General Services Administration proposed significant changes to the System for Award Management (SAM) - the online portal that nonprofits and other grantees use to manage grant programs with the federal government. The GSA, an independent agency that manages and...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/24/26 FY27 education spending bill passes House