Res. No. 742-A
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress, the Governor of the State of New York and the New York State Legislature to ensure the continued operation of 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
By Council Members Fidler, Brewer, Gennaro, Gonzalez, Nelson, Recchia Jr., Seabrook, Weprin, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Dickens, Liu, Sears and White Jr.
Whereas, Two hundred and seven 21st Century Community Learning Centers ("Centers") throughout New York State, 60 percent of which are located in New York City, are in jeopardy of being shut down in June 2007 due to a funding shortage; and
Whereas, These after-school Centers provide valuable academic support and enrichment opportunities for the children of New York at high-poverty and low-performing schools; and
Whereas, These Centers help to improve State literacy and education levels by successfully helping many students to meet State and local standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; and
Whereas, Working parents of approximately 34,000 children in the State have come to depend on the Centers, which operate every day from 3 to 6 pm; and
Whereas, The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to after-school programs; and
Whereas, While the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act ("Act") includes an annual schedule of authorized amounts to be appropriated to the Centers, each year Congress has consistently appropriated less funding than such authorized amounts; and
Whereas, The total funding for the nation's Centers appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 2007 was approximately $981 million, which is not even half of the $2.5 billion authorized for appropriation under the Act; and
Whereas, Pursuant to the Act, the New York State Education Department ("SED") is charged with the responsibility of distributing federal funds to New York State Centers; and
Whereas, Pursuant to the Act, each fiscal year a State must reserve not less than 95 percent of the amount allotted to the State for awards to eligible Center grantees; and
Whereas, In February of 2007, the SED announced that due to a shortage of funds there would be no request for proposals issued, as was expected this year, thereby leaving 207 operational Centers State-wide without the opportunity to apply for continued funding; and
Whereas, The current funding crisis appears to be a consequence of inadequate federal funding, which has decreased from approximately $98.9 million for the State in 2004 to approximately $90 million in 2006, as well as SED's management of such funds; and
Whereas, The United States Congress should provide adequate funds to enable these Centers to fulfill their mandate under the Act to provide students with opportunities for academic enrichment and other programs that complement the regular academic program; and
Whereas, If the Centers are not funded beyond June of 2007, approximately 34,000 children in 207 Centers in the State will lose vital after-school programs, 20,000 of whom are in New York City; and
Whereas, Pursuant to the State budget passed on April 1, 2007, the Centers will receive $7.5 million in aid, which is less than a quarter of the $31 million estimated as necessary to keep Centers open for one year; and
Whereas, During a time when the State budget surplus is approximately $1.5 billion, a possible solution would be to amend the State budget to provide a one-year extension of State funds for a total amount of $31 million in State aid, which would give the Centers time to secure additional necessary funds while continuing program operation; and
Whereas, The Governor of the State of New York should do all that is within his power to ensure that these valuable Centers, which help working parents throughout the State and enrich the lives and academic performance of 34,000 children, will continue to remain open; and
Whereas, The SED should ensure that funding for these important Centers is carefully managed so that threats of Center shutdowns do not occur in the future; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress, the Governor of the State of New York and the New York State Legislature to ensure the continued operation of 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
EC
LS# 2687
4/16/07, 3:44 PM