(Photo: Courtesy of the Dream Center Academy)
As a federal funding freeze threatens to eliminate afterschool programs for thousands of North Carolina students, program operators say the impact will be devastating to working families, students and society at large.
The freeze, which was announced by the Trump administration earlier this month, affects programs like 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a federal program that supports afterschool programs for low-income students in the state.
State education advocates warn that approximately 11,000 students and 125 programs across North Carolina are at risk. The freeze on the $35 million grant, part of a broader $165 million allotment in congressionally approved education funds for North Carolina, threatens to eliminate academic enrichment, nutritional support, and safe, supervised environments for children while their parents are at work.
“These 21st Century Community Learning Center programs are a real American success story,” said Elizabeth Anderson, director of the NC Center for Afterschool Programs — a project of the Public School Forum of North Carolina. “They’re very effective, and they’re very data-backed in terms of supporting student learning, supporting working families, and supporting student success in general.”
The freeze in funding could potentially leave working parents scrambling for child care and students without structured environments after school. Research has shown that without these programs, children are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and that the juvenile crime rates increase between 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Children are also likely to fall behind academically, and face challenges in social and emotional development.
Roxann Jimison, executive director of Dream Center Academy (Courtesy photo)Dream Center Academy in Gaston County is among the organizations feeling the impact of the freeze. Roxann Jimison, executive director for the organization, said the organization receives 50% of its funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.
The program has 160 middle and high school students on its roster for the upcoming school year. For these students, many of whom are from Gaston County’s most vulnerable communities, the program offers a support system that goes beyond standard coursework. Beyond academics, students participate in book clubs, enrichment programs, and even job shadowing. They learn tie-tying, discuss character development, and take college tours. “These aren’t just classes,” Jimison said in a phone interview. “We’re building a community that believes in their potential.”
Since opening in 2017, 86% of students achieve positive attendance, 88% maintain positive behavior, and 84% earn good grades, with 61% making the honor roll, according to Jimison. Among the program’s first two graduating classes, 88% enrolled in college or trade school, while 12% entered the workforce for on-the-job training, she said.
“Without this funding, we’d have to cut back on certified tutors, field trips, and college tours,” Jimison said. “We’ve spent years building this support, and losing these programs would significantly impact at-risk students.”
Jimison said the Department of Public Instruction has told her it has funding to replace 34% of the amount withheld. Still, she said, the program’s long-term sustainability remains uncertain, with current funds expected to last until December.
According to a 2023 survey by Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization that works to increase access to after school programs, about 87% of parents, including Democrats, Republicans and independents, back public funding for afterschool programs.
Elizabeth Anderson, director of the NC Center for Afterschool Programs. (Courtesy photo)North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, along with 24 other state attorneys general, sued the U.S. Department of Education this week over the withholding of the funds. The money, which was due to be delivered by July 1, was suddenly paused on the evening of June 30 with little explanation.
The department has said the pause is to “ensure taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president’s priorities.”
Anderson reiterated the broader implications, and the role after-school programs play in societal well-being. “After school provides safe and structured places, so kids don’t necessarily engage in risky behaviors as easily as they are when they’re unsupervised after school,” Anderson said. “After school supports parents so they can go to work. After school supports kids in developing academically, exploring careers, preparing to participate in the American economy.”
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