SPONSOR: |
Rep. Longhurst & Rep. Schwartzkopf |
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 39 |
ESTABLISHING THE STATEWIDE AFTERSCHOOL INITIATIVE LEARNING TASK FORCE. |
WHEREAS, according to Kids Count 2016,
21% of children are living in poverty in Delaware and only 38% of children are
proficient in math by grade 5 and 49% of children are proficient in reading by
grade 8; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2014 parent
survey conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, more than 26,000 Delaware
students participate in afterschool programs (18% of children); and
WHEREAS, a staggering 11.3 million
students nationwide will be unsupervised today after the school bell rings.
28,000 of those students live in Delaware - that’s almost 20% of students in
Delaware. A total of 48,000 students would be likely to participate in an
afterschool program if one was available; and
WHEREAS, study after study has shown
that afterschool programs help our students succeed. Students in afterschool
programs are more likely to come to school, stay in school and to graduate.
Participation in high-quality afterschool programs is linked to significant
gains in standardized tests scores and work habits as well as reductions in
behavior problems among disadvantaged students; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs are a
lifeline for our working parents - on average they have 7 fewer unscheduled
absences when they know their children are safe in an afterschool program; and
WHEREAS, at best, these students are
missing opportunities to be engaged and energized. At worst, they are exposed
to a host of undesirable activities. Crime committed by and against juveniles
spikes during the hours after school.
WHEREAS, students that don’t
participate in afterschool programs are 3 times more likely to be truant, use
drugs, or use alcohol and 37% more likely to become teen parents; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs save
money in the long run. Every dollar
invested in afterschool programs saves at least $9 in reducing crime and
welfare costs, improving students’ school performance and increasing learning
potential.
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of
Representatives of the 148th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that the
Statewide Afterschool Initiative Learning Task Force (“Task Force”) is
established to study and make recommendations regarding the creation of a Statewide Afterschool Initiative Program.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the focus of the Task Force’s study, findings, and
recommendations include, but are not limited to:
1. Assessment of all existing afterschool programs in Delaware
including their quality, performance measurements, populations served and cost.
2. Evaluation of a target population of children currently not being
served by existing afterschool programs.
3. The efficiencies and benefits that
can be created by greater collaboration between community based organizations
and public schools for afterschool programs.
4. Recommendations on how to benefit
more students through afterschool programs.
5. Recommendations regarding how to
create greater collaboration between afterschool programs and public schools.
6. Recommendations concerning a model
and best practices for a state funded afterschool program to be implemented
statewide, centered around collaboration between public schools and community
based organizations.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Task Force shall be
comprised of the following members or a designee appointed by the member
serving by virtue of position:
1. A member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the
House shall serve as chair.
2. A member of the House of Representative appointed by the
Speaker of the House shall
serve as a vice-chair.
3. A member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore shall serve as a
vice-chair.
4. The
Secretary of the Department of Education.
5. Two members from non-profit community based
organizations, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
6. A superintendent of a school
district appointed by the President of the Chief School Officer’s Association.
7. A principal of a school appointed by
the Delaware Association of School Administrators.
8. A representative from the Delaware Chamber of Commerce
appointed by the Speaker of the House.
9. The Controller General.
10. The President of the Delaware State Education
Association.
11. A private afterschool provider
appointed by the Speaker of the House.
12. A member from the Delaware Alliance
for Nonprofit Advancement appointed by the Speaker of the House.
13. A member from the Delaware
Afterschool Network appointed by the Speaker of the House.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
vice-chairs and chair may add members to the Task Force as they deem necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task
Force shall gather input from relevant afterschool program providers and
opinions from experts during the development of their recommendations. It is
recommended that the Task Force gather input from the following entities:
Afterschool Alliance, Attorney General, Delaware State PTA, Food Bank of
Delaware, Delaware Library Association and the Department of Services for
Children, Youth and their Families.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the House of
Representatives shall provide staff and support for the Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall provide a report to the Delaware General Assembly by December 1, 2016 of its findings and recommendations.
SYNOPSIS
This resolution creates the Statewide Afterschool Initiative Learning Task Force. |