Virginia’s only statewide funding stream for out-of-school time (OST) programs is through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) federal program. During the 2022 Virginia General Assembly session, legislators prioritized OST and allocated an additional $4 million to fund 15 programs in high-needs communities. This allocation is through Virginia’s share of the American Rescue Plan and will only be available for one fiscal year. It is critical that we continue to promote OST programs and educate legislators on the importance of OST in Virginia. We would like to see Virginia dedicate state funding to OST programs through its own funding stream.
How can we educate legislators on the availability and value of out-of-school time programs in Virginia? How can we help ensure that there is enough investment that all children and families in Virginia have access to quality out-of-school time programs? Support for public funding for afterschool programs in Virginia is extremely popular, with 89% of parents in favor. In fact, public funding is wildly popular across the political spectrum, with 90% of Republicans, 91% of Democrats, and 93% of Independents supporting public afterschool funding.
Navigating the Legislative Map
To navigate this map, use the icon on the top left-hand side of your screen to filter between the Senate and House of Delegates. The orange dots are out-of-school time programs. Click within a district, and the entire district will be highlighted. A box with the legislator’s information will appear, showing their name and party affiliation.
Launch the map in a separate window here.
VPOST stands ready to help facilitate visits of Virginia state legislators at local out-of-school programs. The map above can be used to determine how to connect out-of-school time programs to legislators. Furthermore, it can be used by legislators and political representatives to better understand access and availability in their jurisdictions. If you are interested in setting up a site, please visit Blaire Denson at blaire.denson@v-post.org.
