Several states have legislation that establishes a sound base for afterschool access, quality, funding and long-term sustainability. How can you go about developing a proposal for legislative action in your state? View this template for a legislative proposal. In addition to sample language, this template asks questions and raises points you and other advocates will need to consider and agree upon as you create your legislation and before you seek a legislative sponsor. Look at the examples below from Minnesota, Iowa and New Jersey to see what legislation can do.
Minnesota: Legislation to Establish an Afterschool Community Learning Grant Program
In 2007, Minnesota passed legislation establishing a competitive statewide grant program “to provide grants to community or nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, or school-based programs that serve youth after school or during non-school hours.” Programs are expected to increase participants’ school connectedness and academic achievement, and they are expected to collaborate with other community entities. The legislation also included an appropriation of $10 million from the general fund for FY08. Read the text of H.F. #976 to learn more.
Iowa: Legislation to Establish a New Grant Program
In 2007, Iowa created a new competitive grant program that would serve schools and other public and private organizations. In 2008, the law was amended to include summer programs and programs for older youth as eligible activities. Read the full text of the 2007 and legislation, SF 588 and the 2008 amendments, HF 2679.
New Jersey: Executive Order #117
New Jersey Executive Order #117 established New Jersey After 3, which is modeled after the successful system developed by The After School Corporation (TASC) and funded by Open Society Institute (OSI), a program of George Soros. The governor announced the creation of New Jersey After 3 in his 2003 State of the State speech.
Today, I am proposing a new partnership among the State, the private sector, and the many dedicated education and community providers. A partnership that will work together to fund and operate a system of after-school programs across the state. New Jersey After 3 will be the first state-sponsored, non-profit corporation anywhere in America to take on the after-school challenge. I will need this Legislature's help, but I am going to challenge us to have 20,000 children enrolled in after-school activities in the next school year and that will build a better New Jersey.
New Jersey After 3 was formed with highly visible community, state and business leaders and an allocation of $15 million in initial funding. Today, New Jersey After 3 funds an extensive statewide network of nonprofit-run, school-based afterschool programs that currently serves more than 14,000 children in more than 100 schools.
