FY 2025 Appropriations
Both the House and Senate are in the process of developing and finalizing their FY2025 appropriations bills, which essentially fund the government and federal programs, many of which provide critical support for both afterschool and STEM education.
We are tracking both the House and Senate's appropriations bills to advocate that funding for STEM education and afterschool are robust and meet the needs of the field. This includes increased funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV-B of the Every Student Succeeds Act) and full funding for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment program (Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act).
Request to Fully Fund the National Science Foundation
Summary of House's Labor-Health & Human Services-Education Appropriations Bill
Afterschool Alliance Statement on House Appropriations Committee Mark-up
NSF AI Education Bill
This bill would expand scholarship and professional development opportunities to study artificial intelligence. It would create fellowships for professional development for those already in the STEM and education workforce and require the National Science Foundation to work with educators and academics to create guidance to introduce AI skills and education in K-12 classrooms.
We are engaging in the development of this bill to ensure that afterschool educators are eligible for the professional development opportunities and afterschool programs are represented and highlighted as key learning spaces to engage youth in learning about artificial intelligence.
Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2024
This legislation would create new federal grants for programs focused on professional development, training, mentoring, and outreach activities of women and minorities in STEM fields.
There is opportunity for afterschool STEM to be a substantial part of this bill, as we know that afterschool programs offer unique spaces for girls and underrepresented youth to build their sense of identity in STEM, form and maintain key mentorship relationships, and engage in joyful STEM learning.
Reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is designed to strengthen the U.S. public workforce system and help workers, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, obtain high-quality jobs and careers. It is also designed to help employers hire and retain skilled workers.
We are closely following the reauthorization of WIOA to advocate that it include the Youth Workforce Readiness Act and support opportunities for youth to engage in STEM career exploration and workforce opportunities, such as pre-apprenticeships an apprenticeships. We are also advocating that youth voices and community based organizations working directly with youth are included in workforce boards and committees.
Request to Support the Youth Workforce Readiness Act as part of WIOA's reauthorization (page 2)
Youth Workforce Readiness Act Press Release
Youth Workforce Readiness Act Bill Text
Advancing Research in Education Act
The Advancing Research in Education Act (AREA) would reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), which created the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) in 2002. ESRA enables educational data collection and authorizes various federal government efforts to conduct research on education from early childhood through post-secondary school. It's reauthorization is an opportunity to expand access to high-quality early learning opportunities through improved research and data.
We submitted recommendations that the definition of "evidence-based" be less restrictive so as not to exclude afterschool, summer, and other out-of-school time learning experiences since they are often evaluated via qualitative evaluations and by means other than randomized-control trials. We also recommended that a focus on youth well-being and mental health be included in a revised draft. Our recommendations have been adapted into revised bill language and we are following the bill's development.
The MAKERS Act (H.R. 812)
The MAKERS Act was re-introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. David Scott [D-GA-13] and Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick [R-PA-1]. This bill would be supportive of informal learning environments and states that “The Director of the National Science Foundation shall award grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, to support the research and development of makerspaces to assist in the formation of a STEM-capable workforce.”
21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act
This bill would amend Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields. Eligible use of funds include providing afterschool activities designed to encourage interest and develop the skills of girls and underrepresented minorities in STEM subjects. Eligible use of funds also includes summer programs designed to help girls and underrepresented minorities develop an interest in STEM subjects, develop skills in such subjects, and understand the relevance and significance of such subjects.
Expansion of Opportunities for Community Service in Federal Work-Study Programs
Students Working for Communities Act
This bill would allocate a greater percentage of existing Federal Work-Study program funding to support student employment in community service roles, including with local non-profits and community-based organizations such as afterschool programs. College students can provide a variety of services for afterschool STEM programs, such as introducing exciting science and engineering curricula, supporting math tutoring, and providing near-peer mentors for students in programs.
Students Helping Young Students Act os 2025 (S. 377)
This legislation would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, to add a work-study program for off-campus community service at selected afterschool programs.
Blog about Federal Work-Study Program's Community Service Set-Aside