PRINTER'S NO. 4047
No. 824 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN,
FRANKEL, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LEVDANSKY, MELIO, MUNDY, MURT,
MYERS, PARKER, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, THOMAS AND
YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 25, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 25, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 prepare a report on the availability of after-school
3 programming and the after-school needs of children and youth
4 in this Commonwealth.
5 WHEREAS, Nearly 1.8 million school-age children and youths in
6 this Commonwealth return from school to a home where each parent
7 and youth is absent due to employment outside the home; and
8 WHEREAS, These children spend an average of more than six
9 hours per week unsupervised after school; and
10 WHEREAS, According to the national report "America after 3
11 P.M.," 26% of youths not in after-school programs would be
12 likely to participate if an after-school program were available
13 in the community; and
14 WHEREAS, Just 8% of children in Pennsylvania working families
15 are in after-school programs, while 28% of children in
16 Pennsylvania working families are "latchkey kids" with no adult
17 supervision in the afternoon; and
1 WHEREAS, After-school programs provide safe, challenging,
2 engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth
3 develop their academic, cultural, emotional, physical and social
4 skills; and
5 WHEREAS, Children and youth who regularly attend high-quality
6 after-school programs have better grades and conduct in school,
7 more academic and enrichment opportunities and better peer
8 relations and emotional adjustment; and
9 WHEREAS, Teens who do not participate in after-school
10 programs are also three times more likely to engage in risky
11 behavior, including drug and alcohol use, smoking and sexual
12 activity; and
13 WHEREAS, After-school programs are supported with private and
14 public funds, both Federal and State, including 21st Century
15 Community Learning Centers, subsidized child care, school-age
16 child care, work force investment boards, ELECT Student Works
17 and tutoring programs; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
19 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to prepare a report on
20 the after-school needs of children and youth in this
21 Commonwealth; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the report assess the after-school
23 opportunities for children and youth and their families and
24 include:
25 (1) A review of the availability, types and locations of
26 after-school programs across this Commonwealth.
27 (2) Geographical gaps where there are not available,
28 affordable and accessible after-school programs for children
29 and youth across this Commonwealth.
30 (3) Statistical information on the number of children and
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1 youths currently being served in after-school programs.
2 (4) The cost per child to provide various types of high-
3 quality after-school programming.
4 (5) The extent to which public funding is available by
5 funding stream for after-school programming.
6 (6) The extent to which private funding, both parent fees
7 and corporate and foundation grants, are available for after-
8 school programs;
9 and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
11 report its findings and recommendations to the Children and
12 Youth Committee of the House of Representatives and the
13 Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives no
14 later than 12 months after adoption of this resolution.
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