1Designating October 23, 2014, as "Lights on Afterschool Day" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, More than 28 million children in the United States
4have parents who work outside the home and more than 15 million
5children are left unsupervised after the school bell rings; and

6WHEREAS, Almost 1.3 million children between 6 and 17 years
7of age in Pennsylvania have both parents in the work force or,
8in single parent families, the sole parent in the work force;
9and

10WHEREAS, Twenty-six percent of the nation's school-age
11children are responsible for taking care of themselves
12afterschool; and

13WHEREAS, Afterschool hours represent the single biggest block
14of time for children and youth and a key time during the

1development of children into adolescents and adolescents into
2adults; and

3WHEREAS, Afterschool programs provide safe, challenging,
4engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth
5develop academics, cultural, emotional, physical and social
6skills; and

7WHEREAS, Afterschool programs support working families by
8ensuring that their children are safe and productive during
9afterschool hours; and

10WHEREAS, Afterschool programs offer a fun and supportive
11educational environment for Science, Technology, Engineering and
12Mathematics (STEM); and

13WHEREAS, A recent national survey found that 52% of parents
14cite cost as a barrier to enrolling their children in
15afterschool programs; and

16WHEREAS, Research illustrates that high-quality programming
17improves student achievement, reduces crime by and against
18children and youth and promotes positive social development; and

19WHEREAS, Afterschool programs build stronger communities by
20involving parents, business leaders and student and adult
21volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting
22positive relationships among children, youth, families and
23adults; and

24WHEREAS, "Lights on Afterschool," a national celebration of
25afterschool programs held on October 23, 2014, promotes the
26critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives
27of children, their families and their communities; therefore be
28it

29RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October
3023, 2014, as "Lights on Afterschool Day" in Pennsylvania.