Through the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative, Congress recently passed the FY 2022 spending bill, which included a $30 million increase in funding for local after-school and summer learning programs. Although this support is greatly appreciated, local programs are facing unprecedented staffing challenges and long waiting lists of students due to a lack of funding. 

We are at the very beginning of the FY 2023 appropriations process. President Joe Biden presented his proposal to add $21 million to the 21st Century Community Learning Center initiative. Take a moment to reach out to your congressperson and senator to thank them for their support and ask for even more funding. We are urging the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding to the 21st CCLC initiative to $500 million to help programs cover growing costs and meet the demand for programs that exist nationwide!