THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, PILEGGI, BROWNE, ALLOWAY, GREENLEAF, FONTANA, DINNIMAN, RAFFERTY, M. WHITE, PICCOLA, ORIE, PIPPY, KASUNIC, BOSCOLA, BAKER, SCHWANK, YUDICHAK, ERICKSON, FERLO, EARLL, WASHINGTON, SOLOBAY, TARTAGLIONE, WARD, COSTA, STACK AND FARNESE, OCTOBER 17, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 17, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating October 20, 2011, as "Lights on Afterschool! Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, More than 28 million children in the United States

have parents who work outside the home and more than 14 million

children have no place to go after school; and

WHEREAS, More than 1.3 million children who are between 6 and

17 years of age in Pennsylvania have both parents in the work

force or, in single-parent families, the sole parent in the work

force; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-six percent of the nation's school-age

children are responsible for taking care of themselves after

school; and

WHEREAS, Out-of-school hours represent the single biggest

block of time for children and youth and a key time during the

development of children into adolescents and adolescents into

adults; and

WHEREAS, Afterschool programs provide safe, challenging,

engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth

develop academic, cultural, emotional, physical and social

skills; and

WHEREAS, Afterschool programs support working families by

ensuring that their children are safe and productive during out-

of-school hours; and

WHEREAS, Research illustrates that high-quality programming

improves student achievement, reduces crime by and against

children and youth and promotes positive social development; and

WHEREAS, Afterschool programs build stronger communities by

involving parents, business leaders and student and adult

volunteers in the lives of young people, thereby promoting

positive relationships among children, youth, families and

adults; and

WHEREAS, "Lights on Afterschool!" is a national celebration

of afterschool programs, which event promotes the critical

importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of

children, their families and their communities; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 20, 2011, as

"Lights on Afterschool! Day" in Pennsylvania.