The just-submitted federal budget recommends eliminating federal funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) — a significant source of funding for LINC after-school programs.

LINC currently uses 21st CCLC funding to support after-school programs in the Kansas City, Hickman Mills, and Grandview school districts.

Over 2,300 students attend after-school programs in 23 elementary and middle schools in the three districts.

The 21st CCLC initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local  after school, before school, and summer learning programs.

The program was reauthorized in 2015 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Each state receives funds based on its share of Title I funding for low-income students. Grants support local schools and community-based organizations that provide after school and summer learning programs to students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools

Here’s more detail from the Afterschool Alliance.

The current federal funding level is $1.2 billion and serves approximately 2 million students.

The federal education program was first funded in FY 1998 and has been funded every year since.

The prior year federal budget also zeroed out the 21st CCLC but Congress approved $1.22 billion.

Here’s a fact sheet on the federal program.