HARRISBURG, Pa. — Hundreds of students, teachers, and school officials gathered at the state Capitol to advocate for funding for after-school programs on Wednesday. Organizers are asking for $11.5 million to be allocated to enhancing, enriching, and strengthening after-school programs throughout Pennsylvania.
Governor Josh Shapiro proposed $11.5 million to create a statewide Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) program to increase access to before- and after-school programming for Pennsylvania kids. Advocates hope lawmakers will see this proposal to the end.
“11.5 million as proposed is progress and is a start,” said Contrell Armors, the director of Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN). “After-school is so important not only to the school districts but to the communities themselves.”
Armors said the goal is to enrich the academic experience for students and involve them in service learning projects, enriching their experience around workforce development, and all contributions to the community. Armors said that they’re not complaining about the amount and instead looking at what they can do with funding.
“Somewhere we have to find that starting spot to show that the state government can fund these programs that we can deliver on those results,” said Armors.
According to PSAYDN, in Pennsylvania, every $1 invested in afterschool programs saves $6.69 by decreasing high school dropout rates, teen pregnancy, substance use and crime. Jay’Len Clark-Carr, a 17-year-old advocate and student a part of the IGNITE afterschool program, said that the opportunity to go gave him a better path.
“I want more kids to have the opportunity that I had,” said Clark-Carr. “When I was growing up there were a lot of shootings in my neighborhood but being in afterschool slowly decreased those shootings with teens.”
Clark-Carr also says that the afterschool programs are saving lives by keeping kids from getting involved with violence and breaking the law. Dayasia Drayton, a student from Central Dauphin East High School said the funding can also go towards infrastructures and enhancing activities.
“The Boys and Girls Club Harrisburg is my family,” said Drayton. “A lot of the Harrisburg Boys and Girls Clubs can use new remodeling and new activities just to bring the kids back.”
Lawmakers have until June 30 to decide whether the funding will be included in the state budget.
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