West Grove, PA - Today, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin joined students in the Avon Grove School District to highlight afterschool programs and how they support students outside of traditional classroom hours.
“Afterschool programs make a difference in the lives of our students every day, inspiring learning, keeping kids safe, and preparing them for bright futures,” said Secretary Mumin. “Programs like Lights On Afterschool give parents peace of mind, and help students discover who they are and what they love to do, make smart choices, and the freedom to learn and grow outside of normal school hours. Afterschool programs are just one more way students can realize their potential and chart their own course.”
Since 2000, Lights On Afterschool has been celebrated nationwide, calling attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America’s children, families, and communities. Today, more than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool rallies are held annually, attracting 1 million Americans and media coverage nationwide. This year’s national celebration will take place on Thursday, October 26.
In honor of this year’s Lights On Afterschool 24th anniversary celebration, the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), along with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Avon Grove School District, joined together to highlight the importance of collaboration and the vital work that afterschool programs do to support students’ well-being and academic growth. The supplemental education that afterschool programs provide is designed to promote language development, academic achievement, and fun in a safe environment for at-risk students, while also providing community resources and parenting supports.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program provides federal funding for the establishment of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities for children to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects through a wide array of activities that complement their regular academic programs. In addition to academics, centers are encouraged to offer participants with a broad range of other services and programs, such as art, music, recreation activities, career and technical training, drug and violence prevention programming, technology education, and more. In addition to providing programming to students, centers also offer educational services for families of students, including literacy instruction, computer training, and cultural enrichment.
The 2023-24 commonsense, bipartisan budget delivers on Governor Josh Shapiro’s top priorities to create a stronger economy, safer and healthier communities, and better schools. This budget makes historic investments in education for students across Pennsylvania, including $567 million in basic education funding – the largest increase to the Basic Education Funding Formula in Pennsylvania history.