RIASPA 2008 Legislative Platform RIASPA has been working with our Public Policy Committee to implement our legislative platform for 2008. Our activities include:
RIASPA will continue to work with our Supporting Student Success (S3) State Leadership Team and Advisors to develop appropriate legislation, policies, and/or regulations that support afterschool programs and help to better integrate “expanded learning opportunities”—such as afterschool and summer learning programs into the state education system.
The legislative commission on afterschool transportation created last year through legislation submitted by RIASPA and passed by the General Assembly has met regularly since March, 2008. The legislative commission studied research conducted by RIASPA on transportation and is forming recommendations for appropriate policies and/or legislation that would help address the afterschool transportation issue. These recommendations will be included in the report of the legislative commission which is expected to be completed later this month.
A bill was submitted by Representative Ajello and Senator Gallo to create an Education Aid Formula for Rhode Island. RIASPA has been working with Representative Ajello to have language inserted in the bill that references afterschool programs. RIASPA staff testified on the bill at a hearing of the House Finance Committee and asked that language be inserted. RIASPA will continue working to have language in the education aid formula about afterschool programs.
Afterschool for All Challenge RIASPA staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Rhode Island's federal delegation as part of the national Afterschool Alliance's Afterschool for All Challenge in May. RIASPA was honored to have Christine Gingeralla, director of the SCOPE program in Central Falls, and two of her program participants, Miranda Santos and Jose Citron, join us as we met with the delegation. RIASPA met with all four members of Rhode Island's delegation, Senators Reed and Whitehouse and Representatives Kennedy and Langevin. As always, all four members of the delegation were extremely supportive of afterschool programs. Miranda and Jose impressed all four members with their sharing of what SCOPE meant to them. There were no stronger advocates at the table then Miranda and Jose. Thank you to Christine, Miranda and Jose for joining us!
New Online Advocacy System on RIASPA’s Website RIASPA has added an online advocacy system to our website. This online system will allow you to contact your legislators on issues important to afterschool programs. RIASPA will be sending out action alerts whenever an issue important to afterschool programs develops. Visit our “Take Action” center to see how the online system works.
21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program President Bush proposed cutting funding for 21st CCLC by $300 million and essentially converting it to a voucher program, dismantling the program. This cut in funding would mean almost $1.38 million in funding for afterschool programs in Rhode Island and almost 1400 children who won’t be served by the programs.
At the urging of RIASPA, Representative Langevin and Senator Whitehouse signed a Dear Colleague letter to their respective Appropriations subcommittee chairmen and ranking members urging increased support for the 21st CCLC program. Senator Reed and Representative Kennedy serve on their respective Appropriations Committee and therefore did not sign the letter.
RIASPA will be following this issue closely as Congress works on a budget for fiscal year 2009.
Meeting with Mayor McKee of Cumberland Staff met with Mayor McKee to discuss the Mayor’s plan for “Mayoral Academies” and inform him about the work of RIASPA. Mayor McKee created an office of Children, Youth and Learning that is working to provide high quality afterschool programming. This programming will be included in the Mayoral Academies, provided that legislation passes in the General Assembly that allows the Academies to be created. The bill to create the Mayoral Academies had a hearing in front of the House Finance Committee. No further action has been taken to date.
Rhode Island State Budget The General Assembly passed the state supplemental budget for the 2008 fiscal year submitted by the Governor. The supplemental budget was designed to fill a $151 million deficit projected for this fiscal year. The supplemental budget contained many cost-cutting measures, only one of which affects afterschool programs. Health care benefits for licensed child care programs, which include afterschool programs, were eliminated from the state budget.
The fiscal Year 2009 state budget continues to work its way through the General Assembly. Hearings have been held in both the House and Senate Finance committees. The House of Representatives version of the state budget is expected to be released in a few weeks. RIASPA staff will continue to monitor the budget process.
