Afterschool Alliance :: Policy and Action Center: Take Action

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Policy and Action Center: Take Action

Congress is considering major changes to afterschool funding as part of education reform and the reauthorization of ESEA. Learn more and Take Action to support afterschool.

Advocacy for afterschool can happen in 2 minutes or last a lifetime. See what you can do:

If you have 2 minutes…

Send a message to Congress and the White House
Sign the Afterschool for All national petition
Send an email to your friends about the importance of afterschool and asking them to take action
Subscribe to the Afterschool Advocate

If you have 10 minutes…

Call or write Congress using our sample letter and call script
Check to see if your Members of Congress are on the Afterschool Caucus; if not ask them to join

If you have 20 minutes…

Write your newspaper

Ready for more?

Invite elected officials to tour your afterschool program
Start a letter writing campaign
Help make afterschool an issue in local and national elections
Distribute an Afterschool for All petition in your community
Host or attend a Lights On Afterschool event
Speak to law makers at the Afterschool for All Challenge in the spring
Visit our Program Toolbox for more ideas on reaching policy makers
Tips and tools on Taking Action in a time of government transition: Transitions in national, state and local governments give us an opportune moment to make sure that afterschool is on the mind of our policy makers. For some tips and tools on how to best make the case for afterschool look at our Transition Ideas for Afterschool Leaders.

Stay busy all year with our Key Advocacy Dates for 2010

February 2	President’s Budget Released
February 15 – 21*	President’s Day Recess Invite Members of Congress to visit your programs and showcase the positive impacts afterschool programs have on children.
April 5 – 18*	Spring Recess Meet with your elected officials and urge them to increase afterschool funding once they begin the appropriations process.
May 16 - 17	Afterschool for All Challenge Come to Washington, D.C. for afterschool workshops and meetings on Capitol Hill with your Members of Congress.
May 29 – 6*	Memorial Day Recess Invite officials to visit your programs to talk to the children about their jobs and what they do to keep your community safe.
May - September	Key Vote-Congress Works on Appropriations Call, write and fax your Senators and Representative. Organize the entire community to call and write letters to their Members of Congress asking for an increase in federal funding for afterschool.
June 29 – July 6*	Independence Day Recess Invite your Members of Congress to visit your program and celebrate Independence Day with your students.
June 21	Summer Learning Day Invite district offices to participate in a summer learning day event. See www.summerlearning.org for more information.
August 9 – September 7	August Recess Meet with your Senators and Representatives in their district offices or invite them to visit your afterschool or summer program
September - October	Key Vote - House & Senate Conference on Appropriations Bills, Send to President Call, fax and write to Congress and President Obama! Make sure they hear how important afterschool programs are to kids in your community and across the country!
October 1	Fiscal year 2011 begins Start a letter writing campaign to the White House urging an increase in funding for afterschool programs in FY2012.

* Tentative recess dates, subject to change.

Policy News	Afterschool and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization
Federal Afterschool Policy	Congressional Caucuses
21st Century Community Learning Centers Federal Afterschool Initiative	Federal Policy - Active Hours Afterschool
Title I, Part A School Improvement Grants	Afterschool Recommendations for ESEA Legislation
Draft Legislation from the U.S. Senate	Legislative Update from the Administration
ESEA Legislation Overview	Draft Legislation from the U.S. House of Representatives
Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund	Title I, Part A Recovery Funds
State Stabilization Funds in Economic Recovery Act	Policy & Action Center - Main

Sample Letter from 21st CCLC or Other Programs	Sample Letter from a Parent
Ask the Candidates about Their Position on Afterschool	Sample Letter to the President
Sample Script for Calling the White House	Sample Script for Calling Congress
Tips on Writing Letters-to-the-Editor	Lights On Afterschool Gallery
Lights On Afterschool Gallery