Policy and Advocacy

In New York City:

TASC's advocacy successes are based on the support of providers and parents. At the city level, we focus on expanding programming and saving programs when they are threatened with closures. In 2004, as the City of New York was implementing the Out-of-School-Time initiative, TASC knew that the Department of Youth and Community Development's focus on serving only certain zip codes in New York City would leave many schools without programs. TASC organized a postcard campaign to help thousands of families reach out to influential policymakers. As a result, TASC allocated $2.5 million to help keep 37 after-school programs open. In subsequent years, TASC's New York City budget postcard campaign has helped lead to an additional $1.3 million for after-school. Now, 41 programs throughout the city receive support from the City Council due to the joint efforts of TASC and New York City parents who send their children to these programs.

If you are interested in writing to your local elected official in support of after-school, please contact Rachel Sabella at rsabella [at] tascorp.org.

In New York State:

In late February of 2007, more than 200 after-school programs around the state were informed that they would lose their primary source of funding. Knowing that these cuts would impact more than 34,000 children, TASC helped organize providers, parents and coalitions around the state to help save these programs. As a result of TASC's advocacy, and with the help of the partner members of the New York State Afterschool Network and the Coalition for Afterschool Funding, more than $13 million was allocated by the state for after-school programs in the fiscal year 2008 budget.

Join us in advocating for after-school with your elected representatives in Albany in 2008. Please contact Rachel Sabella at rsabella [at] tascorp.org.

In the United States:

The after-school movement is growing, especially among members of Congress. New York State members of the House of Representatives Lowey (Co-Chair), Arcuri, Bishop, Higgins, Kuhl, Maloney, Meeks, Rangel, Serrano and Slaughter, and Senators Clinton and Schumer have joined the Congressional Afterschool Caucus. As caucus members, they are New York's after-school champions in Congress. We work closely with these and the other elected officials to promote federal support for after-school. TASC works with the Afterschool Alliance to include New Yorkers in the national conversation on after-school. In the spring of 2008, kids, parents, providers and advocates will travel to Washington, DC. They will urge Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to increase funding and staff resources for the 21st Century Community Learning Center programs – the primary source of federal funding for after-school programs.

If you would like to join us in DC, please contact Rachel Sabella at rsabella [at] tascorp.org.