After school programs will need new funding in ’21-22

After-school programs can be as important to working families as the school day itself.

That makes the funding for those programs, like the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, essential.

But the state funding for the program, which was supposed to sunset last year but was extended through June, will run out at the end of the school year. New grants or funding sources will have to

That wasn’t on the minds of students, parents, teachers and administrators, who celebrated the Lights On Afterschool event Thursday at Renaissance Charter School at Poinciana.

The Lights On Afterschool event is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. It also draws attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, theater, culture, nutrition, discover new skills and more. The event sends a powerful message that millions of more kids need quality afterschool programs.

At its heart, it’s meant to promote those after-school programs that can keep our children safe and off the streets, not just for students at a school like Renaissance Poinciana, but for the 7.6 million American children who are otherwise unsupervised after school.

At Thursday’s event, children in grades K-8 put on well-choreographed danced numbers that showcased their ability to work together — and to entertain.

Melissa Jimenez, the Program Director for 21st CCLC at Renaissance Charter School at Poinciana, said the program is designed for 140 children at her school — and 160 are enrolled.

“Everybody here at the school knows its importance,” she said of the program that runs from 3-5:40 p.m. “We are going to apply to the Department of Education again. Since we’ve been doing this as long as we have, I don’t get the feeling they will say ‘No’ to us.”

Contobia Adams, Osceola County Schools’ Grant Educational Specialist, attended the event and said she is “going to fight for these families and children.”

“It’s a very competitive grant that is ending in June,” she said. “My commitment is to find new funding, with the support of parents. I’m going to fight for these families and children.

Jimenez said she’s already enlisted the help of community partners, like the University of Florida Extension Services in Osceola County, the Girl Scouts and Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT).

Terry Castillo, the district 1 School Board member — and a big fan of the student dance numbers — said the Board can use its influence in Tallahassee to assist with garnering after-school program funding dollars.

“What we can do is impress the importance of this on our legislative lobbying groups,” she said.