Lights On Afterschool
Celebrated at more than 8,000 events nationwide on October 22, 2009, the 10th Annual Lights On Afterschool kicked off with words from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan:
“Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom between school bells… Children learn all day long. So it’s vital to give students and their families the tools, the facilities and the opportunity to continue working on traditional academic subjects as well as a place for broader lessons in areas like art and music to enrich their lives.”
To read the full press release click here.
Lights On Afterschool in Vermont
- In Vermont, Lights On Afterschool was celebrated at over 59 different sites, an increase of almost 30% from 2008.
- Over 380 people attended the Vermont Afterschool Conference in South Burlington on October 23, 2009. This year’s conference featured 33 workshop selections, over 40 presenters, a high school student leader strand, 24 exhibitors, a welcome from Senator Leahy’s office, and the Afterschool Cafe.
- Making a special visit to Vermont this year, Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance, was on hand to give the keynote address at the conference luncheon.
Highlights from Around the Nation
- The New York Times wrote an editorial calling for more funding for afterschool on Tuesday Oct 20, responding to new data from America After 3PM on afterschool demand and supply.
- In addition to speaking at a DC Lights On kick off event Oct 6, the Secretary Arne Duncan recognized Lights On Afterschool in a speech Oct 22 in NYC and Dept of Ed officials attended 12 Lights On Afterschool events in 8 states and Washington, D.C., emphasizing the importance of afterschool programs.
- Along with the US Department of Education, the US Department of Justice, Health and Human Services, US Department of Agriculture, and the President’s Council on Arts and Humanities all spoke at the DC Lights On kick off event Oct 6th.
- The Afterschool Alliance has started a photo gallery from events around the nation and posted a video of an amazing spoken word poem delivered by an afterschool youth about afterschool on their homepage at www.afterschoolalliance.org
- The Senate passed a resolution in support of Lights On, sponsored by Senator Dodd (D-Conn.) and Ensign (R-Nev.) and co-sponsors Senators: Begich (D-Alaska,) Lincoln (D-Ark.) Boxer (D-Calif.) Carper (D-Del.) Inouye and Akaka of Hawaii, Brownback (R-Kan.) Snowe and Collins of Maine, Levin and Stabenow of Michigan, Cochran (R-Miss.) Baucus (D-Mont.) Nelson (D-Neb.) Lautenberg (D-N.J.) Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Burr (R-N.C.), Specter and Casey of Pennsylvania, Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sanders (I-Ver.) and Murray (D-Wash.)
