Supporting afterschool programs and Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 26, 2023.

Supporting afterschool programs and Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 26, 2023.

Whereas millions of children in the United States have parents who work outside the home;

Whereas high-quality programs that expand learning opportunities for children, such as afterschool, before-school, summer, and expanded learning opportunities, provide safe, challenging, engaging, and fun learning experiences, including experiences that encourage the study of science, technology, engineering, and math that help children and youth develop social, emotional, physical, cultural, and academic skills;

Whereas high-quality afterschool programs and high-quality expanded learning opportunities provide students with hands-on, engaging lessons that are aligned with the school day;

Whereas high-quality afterschool programs complement regular and expanded school days and support working families by ensuring that the children of those families are safe and productive during the hours parents are working;

Whereas high-quality afterschool programs engage families, schools, and diverse community partners in advancing the well-being of children and youth in the United States;

Whereas high-quality afterschool programs that partner with high-quality community-based organizations build stronger communities by integrating schools with the larger community; and

Whereas Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool, before-school, summer, and expanded learning opportunities programs was held on October 26, 2023, to highlight the critical importance of those high-quality programs to children and the families and communities of those children: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,