Tell Congress to oppose president's cuts to community learning centers

Editor,

The recent budget proposal from the White House included a shocker: The president wants to eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the main federal funding stream for afterschool programs. More astonishing was the rationale the White House offered: The budget chief said there’s “no demonstrable evidence” that afterschool works.

He is flat wrong about that. Study after study has provided evidence that afterschool programs work. They help improve students’ grades and test scores, and they also improve attendance and behavior during the regular school day, building blocks of future success. They help kids develop lifelong habits like being physically active and making healthy choices. They keep kids safe during a time of day when they might otherwise find trouble. They make it possible for their working parents to keep their jobs.

That’s what the research says, and there’s plenty of it.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line currently serves over 200 students every day, and we have seen thousands of Havre youth come through our doors during the past 15 years. Our goal for every one of those students is to help them do better in school, graduate with a plan for the future and develop a healthy lifestyle. We love to watch as they become productive and valued members of our community.

Federal support for afterschool is modest, but crucial. Congress should reject the president’s proposal to cut it.

Sincerely,

Tim Brurud

Club director, Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line