THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BISHOP, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MILNE, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PARKER, PASHINSKI, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, SAINATO, SANTONI, STURLA, SWANGER, THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 6, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 6, 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 15 million

children are left unsupervised after the school day ends; and

WHEREAS, Almost 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, 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, After school programs provide safe, challenging,

engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth

develop academic, cultural, emotional, physical and social

skills; and

WHEREAS, After school programs support working families by

ensuring that their children are safe and productive during out-

of-school hours; and

WHEREAS, A recent national survey found that 52% of parents

cite cost as a barrier to enrolling their children in after

school programs; 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, After school 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 after school programs on October 20, 2011, that

promotes the critical importance of quality after school

programs in the lives of children, their families and their

communities; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October

20, 2011, as "Lights on Afterschool! Day" in Pennsylvania.