HR0384 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0384 LRB095 12068 NHT 35838 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, There is clear evidence that quality after-school programs can achieve positive outcomes for children and youth in the areas of safety, academics, health and prevention, social and emotional skill building, civic engagement, and development of 21st century skills, making after-school programs a valuable and needed community service; and

WHEREAS, It is important for after-school programs to demonstrate characteristics of quality indicated by research to increase the likelihood of achieving positive outcomes for children and youth in their programs; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has multiple funding streams supporting after-school programs with distinct funding policies and priorities that are not coordinated across administering State agencies, resulting in gaps and overlaps of services; and

WHEREAS, The demonstrated need in communities for after-school services far outweighs the current available funding; and

WHEREAS, The majority of Illinois citizens report that there are not enough after-school opportunities in their communities; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has seen increasing investment in after-school programs by members of the General Assembly in response to the need for after-school programming; this increased funding needs to be strengthened with structures that ensure access, accountability, and sustainability and support the quality elements that are likely to result in positive youth outcomes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is established the After-school Funding Policy Task Force to develop recommendations for the administration and coordination of the after-school, mentoring, and student support line item in the State Board of Education's budget; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the After-school Funding Policy Task Force be comprised of one representative from each of the following, appointed by the Governor: the Governor's Office, the Department of Human Services, the State Board of Education, the Illinois After-school Partnership, the Illinois After-School Alliance, the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, the African American Coalition for Prevention, the Illinois African-American Family Commission, the Latino Coalition for Prevention, the Chicago Area Project, 4 Counties for Kids, Chicago Children and Youth Services, one local government of a downstate municipality designated by the Governor, After School Matters, and the Franklin Neighborhood Community Association, as a representative recipient of funding from the after-school, mentoring, and student support line item, and up to 5 additional representatives as deemed appropriate by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the After-school Funding Policy Task Force may invite additional members to join as needed for expertise and consultation, including, but not limited to, members of the General Assembly, after-school entities from other states, university-represented experts in youth development, national organizations, parents and youth, and funders; and be it further

RESOLVED, That because this State has in place the Illinois After-School Partnership, which has over the past 3 years gathered data to support increased quality and availability of after-school programs and has access to State and national expertise on elements of a sound after-school system, we recommend that these resources be considered during the development of future funding policies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the After-school Funding Policy Task Force shall undertake the following:

(1) develop recommendations for policies for the after-school, mentoring, and student support line item that outline priorities and administrative guidelines; and

(2) develop recommendations that allow sufficient flexibility to meet community needs and require recipients to adhere to baseline measures of accountability and assess the feasibility of establishing this line item as a sustainable source of after-school funding in addition to current State-level programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the After-school Funding Policy Task Force produce a report outlining policy recommendations no later than October 1, 2007, which report must be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly; and upon filing its report the Task Force is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Governor.