2003 Adopted Resolutions
71st Annual Meeting
Denver

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EXPANDING THE NATIONAL INVESTMENT IN AFTER-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, ensuring access to high quality after-school and out-of-school programming for school-aged youth and their families continues to be an increasing priority at the local, state and national levels; and

WHEREAS, after-school programming promotes cognitive learning, enhances physical, social, emotional and moral development of youth, and provides support for working families; and

WHEREAS, affordable, accessible, and high quality after-school and out-of-school programming is essential for all families; and

WHEREAS, a public consensus continues to emerge about the importance and need to share the responsibility for providing safe, enriching and engaging programs for youth during out-of-school hours; and

WHEREAS, the risk of youth becoming victims of or participating in a violent crime(s) triples in the hours following the school day; and

WHEREAS, youth who are unsupervised are at greater risk of truancy, pregnancy, abusing alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, receiving poor grades, and experiencing mental depression; and

WHEREAS, children who attend high quality after-school and out-of-school programs experience greater academic success, develop stronger peer relations, have better emotional adjustment and conflict resolution skills, and have better conduct in school compared to peers not in after-school programs,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urges the federal government, along with state and local governments, to increase investment in community-based after-school and out-of-school programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls on Congress to restore the funding of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers to at least the Fiscal Year 2003 level of $1 billion, and preferably increase the level of funding to $1.75 billion as authorized in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages Mayors across the country to participate and work with community-based organizations to prepare events for the After School Alliance's Lights on Afterschool!