THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, EVERETT, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MICOZZIE, MIRABITO, OLIVER, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STURLA, SWANGER, THOMAS, VEREB AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 6, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 6, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Designating October 21, 2010, 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 6 through 17 years of

age in this Commonwealth have both parents in the work force or,

in single-parent families, have the sole parent in the work

force; and

WHEREAS, More than 500,000 children in Pennsylvania in grades

kindergarten through 12 are responsible for taking care of

themselves after school; and

WHEREAS, Only 8.4 million children in grades kindergarten

through 12 participate in afterschool programs nationally; and

WHEREAS, An additional 18.5 million children would

participate in afterschool programs if one were available in

their communities; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-six percent of school-age children in the

United States 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! Day" is a national

celebration of afterschool programs that promotes the critical

importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of

children, their families and their communities; and

WHEREAS, On October 21, 2010, more than 7,500 national events

will be held in cities across the country in support of "Lights

on Afterschool! Day"; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October

21, 2010, as "Lights on Afterschool! Day" in Pennsylvania.