HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1621

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR after-school programs for public middle and intermediate school students.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Established in 1990 by the department of education, the State's after-school plus (A+) program provides after-school care, including enrichment activities and supervised recreational activities, until 5:30 p.m. on each school day at more than one hundred ninety participating schools.  The program is supported by $6,000,000 in general funds, and the current agreement provides for a payment of $85 per month for each eligible child.  Elementary-school-aged children whose parents work, attend school, or are in job-training programs are eligible to participate.

     However, none of this funding is available to the department of education's middle and intermediate schools to run structured after-school programs.  According to the Afterschool Alliance, each afternoon across the United States, fifteen million children are alone and unsupervised after school.  Countless parents have indicated that they would enroll their children in an after-school program, if one were available.  Of Hawaii's fifty-five middle and intermediate schools, forty-two are designated as Title I, meaning that forty per cent or more of the student population qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

     The legislature finds that high-quality after-school programs targeted toward Hawaii's public middle and intermediate school students would generate significant returns on investment for society as a whole.  It costs $12,000 per student for a six-hour day in school and approximately $1,000 for three hours in an after-school program.  Positive returns would also be realized with respect to the prevention of teen pregnancies, drug abuse, and juvenile crime and delinquency.  High-quality after-school programs would help prevent Hawaii's youth from heading down the wrong path.

     The after-school hours are a critical period of time.  The hours between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and delinquency as well as experimentation with alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and sex.  Without adult supervision, this is the period of time when youth violence, drug use, and other delinquent behaviors are most likely to occur.

     Students in middle and intermediate school constitute an age group historically underserved by after-school program providers.  In Hawaii, there are many programs for elementary school students in the form of structured day care, such as the A+ program.  On the other hand, high schools offer numerous clubs, teams, and extra-curricular activities for students.  However, middle and intermediate school students are often left with few safe and structured opportunities between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

     At a time when middle- and low-income families and communities are struggling financially and children are falling behind academically, after-school programs are needed more than ever.  A powerful convergence of factors--including a lack of federal, state and local funding, and families and communities working with tight budgets--leaves 68,665 of Hawaii's school-aged children alone and unsupervised after the school day ends.  After-school programs not only keep students safe but they also provide students with productive, enjoyable, and innovative enrichment and health and fitness activities.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to provide after-school programs in Hawaii's public middle and intermediate schools with high-quality, structured after-school supervision for students enrolled in grade six to grade eight.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the establishment of after-school programs for public middle and intermediate school students.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

After-school Programs for Public Middle and Intermediate School Students

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the establishment of after-school programs for public middle and intermediate school students.

 

 

 

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