Stimulus Package and Summer Learning Programs

Posted by on February 23, 2009

National Center for Summer Learning

Special Announcement: What does the economic recovery legislation mean for summer learning?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, just paased by Congress and President Obama’s administration, has significant implications for summer learning.  At the current time, no funds are explicitly targeted for summer, but several provisions of the bill provide potential access to funding for summer learning programs.

Following is a brief overview of the key provisions included in the version of the bill recently passed by the House of Representatives that provide potential funding for summer:

> >$13 billion for Title I, to help disadvantaged students reach high academic standards. Summer learning programs are an allowable use of funds under Title I, including the Supplemental Education Services and
School Improvement provisions.

> >$1.2 billion to create up to 1 million summer jobs through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) which could be used to provide employment opportunities and internships to older youth.

> >$2 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants, with about one third to be used to support children in afterschool and summer programs.

> >$14 billion in School Modernization, Renovation and Repair, funding for infrastructure improvements that will improve schools’ and communities’ facilities, indirectly helping afterschool and summer programs.

> >$79 billion in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, of which 61 percent must be used for education with the remainder going to other critical needs, including public safety and public services. The Center believes that summer learning providers can make a case that some of these funds should support summer programs.

> >$160 million for additional AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members. AmeriCorps members currently help staff many summer programs, and additional members could be a great resource for struggling summer programs.

Get information on the benefits of summer learning here: http://www.summerlearning.org/