By Shannon Holmes
December 9, 2002

Over the past several years, there has been a dramatic increase in national attention on how children and youth spend their out of school time. The growing demand for high-quality, safe, and engaging after-school programs is a response to several trends, including a demographic shift toward working families, the increased chance of risky behavior among unsupervised children and youth, and the potential of high quality programs to improve children's educational performance.

Unfortunately, there remains a large gap between demand for and supply of high quality, affordable after-school programs across the United States. The high expectations for academic performance that accompany education reform efforts have intensified attention on after-school programs across the country. With children spending only 20 percent of their waking hours in school, it is becoming increasingly clear that the afternoon hours hold great potential for engagement in high quality learning activities that will aid children's school performance.

In September 1998, The U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Committee sponsored an historic National Summit on School Violence and Kids from 2:00 to 8:00. An unparalleled group of leaders, including the Conference Leadership, police chiefs, representatives from the National Education Association and student organizations and experts on youth violence, to name a few, came together for the first time to draft and adopt a National Action Plan.

In October of this year, The U.S. Conference of Mayors partnered with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to move forward the Mayors after-school Leadership Project. The goal of this new initiative is to encourage the leadership of America's mayors in expanding and strengthening after-school programs across the country. The importance of after-school programming continues to grow and mayors can take a leadership role increasing the availability of more after-school programs.

Voters in California recognized the importance of after-school programs and let it be known on November 5, 2002 when Proposition 49, also known as the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, was passed by more than 55 percent of the vote. The after-school Education and Safety Program Act of 2002 will provide grants to elementary and middle schools across the state for after-school programs. When fully funded, the measure will provide $433 million in additional state funds for the programs. Schools will be required to provide a 50 percent match. Grants will not be made until the economy improves sufficiently to provide the state with enough additional revenue to fund the measure.

In a poll conducted for the After school Alliance, 9 out of 10 voters said that there should be some type of organized activity or place for children to go after school every day that provides opportunities for them to learn. Nearly two-thirds stated their concern that existing after-school programs might have to reduce services or close their doors because there is no new funding available. An independent study by the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College in California found that every dollar invested in after-school programs will save taxpayers approximately $3 and could save more than $6.50 for crime victims.

At the upcoming U.S. Conference of Mayors 71st Annual Winter Meeting, there will be an hour and a half workshop focusing on the role of mayors and after-school programming within their cities. In addition, there will be the recording of a public service announcement targeted towards the importance of after-school programs in each city.

After-School Workshop

The after-school Programs for Kids and the Role of Mayors Workshop will focus on the value of after-school programs, foster dialogue among mayors and experts, and produce new ideas and strategies around the role of mayors in building high quality after-school systems.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2:00 — 3:30 p.m. Any mayor that has after-school programs or would like to know more about becoming involved in after-school programs should plan to attend this very important and informative workshop.

Public Service Announcements

Also at the Winter Meeting, mayors will have the opportunity to tape individualized PSAs that will be linked to the After school Alliance "What is a Hero?" Public Service Announcement. This will provide mayors with their own PSA to help capture public attention and illustrate the mayor's leadership role in creating, improving and sustaining local after-school programs.

There will be a script provided for the recording of the PSA, which will be approximately 10 seconds long in the 30 second PSA. The Conference staff will put together the PSA for each city recorded and deliver it approximately six weeks after the meeting.

Due to the time constraints, we are requesting that mayors sign up prior to the meeting so that we can coordinate and schedule each individual PSA. In order to register for the taping of your after-school PSA please contact Shannon Holmes on the Conference staff at (202) 861-6728.

After-school Survey

Prior to the Winter Meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors would like to compile information about what mayors around the country are doing in their cities regarding after-school programs. If you have after-school programs in your city and would like to be included in the survey please contact Shannon Holmes at (202) 861-6728 to obtain a copy of the survey.

If you have any questions regarding the after-school Workshop, PSA, or survey please contact Shannon Holmes on the Conference staff at (202) 861-6728 or via e-mail at sholmes@usmayors.org