SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 35

(By Senators Plymale, Edgell, Dempsey and Unger)


Directing the West Virginia Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the 4-H and Youth, Family and Adult Development Division of the West Virginia University Extension Service convene and cochair a task force, to be known as the West Virginia After-School Partnership, intended to constructively address issues involving the development and care of school-age children.

Whereas, Recent data shows that the violent juvenile crime rate climbs, and children are most likely to be victims of violence committed by nonfamily members, between the hours immediately following the end of the school day until approximately 6 p.m.; and
Whereas, Children who attend after-school programs spend more time in learning opportunities, academic enrichment and physical activity while spending less time watching television or engaging in risky behavior with their peers; and
Whereas, A post-election national poll conducted for the After-School Alliance shows that eight in ten voters agree that funding should increase for after-school programs and a majority of those polled indicated they would support a tax increase to fund these programs; and
Whereas, A study by the Rose Institute in California concluded that a significantly valuable return to taxpayers of an investment in after-school programs exists and is exemplified by reduced child care costs, improved school performance, increased compensation and reduced crime and welfare costs; and
Whereas, In 2004, the State Department of Education received 32 proposals requesting funding of 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school programs that would have served nearly 30,000 children in the state, but funding was available for only 12 grants serving less than 9,000 children. In 2005, funding was available for only one grant serving 1,000 students although 21 proposals were received; and
Whereas, More than 27 percent of children in kindergarten through twelfth grade in self care in this state would be likely to participate in an after-school program if one were available in the community according to a survey conducted by the After-School Alliance; and
Whereas, A recent report, "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids", indicates that the Child Care Development Block Grant to help low-income parents pay for child care could only serve 25 percent of eligible West Virginia children while stating further that child care center teacher wages in this state average only $13,400, resulting in high staff turnover, inadequately trained staff and low-quality care; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby directs the West Virginia Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the 4-H and Youth, Family and Adult Development Division of the West Virginia University Extension Service to convene and cochair a task force, to be known as the West Virginia After-School Partnership, intended to constructively address issues involving the development and care of school-age children; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the activities of the West Virginia After-School Partnership shall include: (1) Conducting an assessment of after-school services in West Virginia, including the identification of the number of children and youth served statewide in after-school programs; (2) identifying provider programs and service regions; (3) assessing the need for after-school programs; (4) identifying and describing the needs of providers in sustaining high-quality programs; (5) describing current funding streams supporting after-school programs; and (6) creating a plan to establish a network of partners engaged in after-school programs to promote high-quality programs that are accessible and sustainable; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia After-School Partnership shall provide recommendations for public policies to increase the availability and improve the sustainability of high- quality after-school programs and identify sources to further the work of the Partnership from public and private sectors; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the After-School Partnership, coordinated by the West Virginia Department of Education, the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts and the 4-H and Youth, Family and Adult Development Division of the West Virginia University Extension Service shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on the West Virginia After-School Partnership during the 2007 legislative session.