SJR 29: Urging the United States Congress to support initiatives to fund before and after school programs; and urging the Department of Education and Early Development to serve as a clearinghouse for information and to create a statewide network related to those programs.
00 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29 01 Urging the United States Congress to support initiatives to fund before and after school 02 programs; and urging the Department of Education and Early Development to serve as 03 a clearinghouse for information and to create a statewide network related to those 04 programs. 05 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 WHEREAS more than 120,000 school age children in the state have their custodial 07 parent or both parents working outside of the home; and 08 WHEREAS as many as 110,000 "latchkey children" are going home to an empty 09 house after school; and 10 WHEREAS before and after school programs can provide a safe, stimulating place 11 for children outside their homes; and 12 WHEREAS the benefits of before and after school programs are many, including 13 increased academic achievement, team-building skills, and physical fitness; and 14 WHEREAS, under Alaska law, high school seniors are now required to pass an exit 15 exam to receive their high school diplomas; and
01 WHEREAS trial test scores have shown significant segments of our student 02 population need more preparation to pass the exit exam; and 03 WHEREAS research has shown that participation in before and after school programs 04 can increase standardized test scores in subjects such as reading and mathematics; and 05 WHEREAS research has shown that the hours between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. are 06 when the most juvenile crime takes place; and 07 WHEREAS nine out of 10 voters continue to support after school programs, 08 according to a 2003 nationwide poll conducted by the polling firm, Lake, Snell, Perry and 09 Associates; and 10 WHEREAS research has shown that involvement in before and after school programs 11 decreases juvenile crime, drug use, and welfare dependency and increases high school 12 graduation rates when adequate before and after school programs are available; 13 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Department of 14 Education and Early Development to direct existing staff to create a system in order to serve 15 as a clearinghouse for parents, educators, and community leaders statewide regarding 16 successful before and after school programs, grant opportunities, and changes in federal, state, 17 and local laws affecting before and after school programs; and be it 18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges the Department of 19 Education and Early Development to conduct a statewide teleconference for parents, 20 educators, and community leaders to create a statewide network on before and after school 21 programs with a mission to share information on resources, funding opportunities, and new 22 government initiatives; and be it 23 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully urges the 24 Alaska congressional delegation to support initiatives at the federal level to fund before and 25 after school programs, including adequate funding, as $2,000,000,000 in federal funding is 26 recommended under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, for the 21st Century Community 27 Learning Center program in fiscal year 2005. 28 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the 29 Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. 30 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.