-But Wisconsin Families Still Face an Uncertain Future

It’s been a troubling summer for anyone who cares about children, families, and the thousands of students who rely on summer and afterschool programs across Wisconsin. In early July, without warning and without sound legal authority, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced it would withhold billions in federal education funds—including money that had already been signed into law months earlier.

Among the funding frozen was support for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs)—the only federal program dedicated exclusively to afterschool and summer learning. In Wisconsin, more than 18,000 students across over 150 programs rely on this funding for safe, enriching places to go when school is out. These programs aren’t extras. They are essential for student success and family stability.

Also caught in the freeze were other critical federal programs, including Title II-A (teacher professional development), Title IV-A (student support), Title III-A (English learners), Title I-C (migrant education), adult basic education, and English literacy and civics education. These dollars support some of our most vulnerable students.

There was no clear explanation. No legal justification. And no warning to the schools and organizations already planning for the 2025–26 school year.

But the response from the afterschool field was swift. National networks like the Afterschool Alliance, local providers, parents, and state advocates mobilized. Tens of thousands of letters and phone calls poured into congressional offices. The Afterschool Alliance organized a briefing for the bi-partisan Senate Caucus and then within days, ten Republican senators sent a letter demanding the OMB release the funds. That pressure worked. The administration reversed course. For now, the 21st CCLC money is moving.

This was a critical victory—but also a red flag.

Why did we have to fight so hard for funding that was already signed into law? Why was it even legal for the administration to delay disbursement based on a vague “review”? And what’s to stop it from happening again next year?

This experience exposed a dangerous truth: Wisconsin has no backup plan. We are in the minority of states without any dedicated state funding stream for afterschool and summer learning programs. That leaves our kids—especially those in rural or under-resourced areas—completely dependent on federal dollars. And when federal dollars get caught up in politics, Wisconsin kids lose.

We can’t afford that gamble.

Because 21st CCLC programs are not just childcare- they are proven, high-quality learning environments that deliver real results.

In fact, students who regularly attend these programs see improvements in GPA, attendance, engagement, and even standardized test scores. A national study of low-income, ethnically diverse students found that regular attendance in a high-quality afterschool program like 21st CCLC led to up to a 20-percentile gain in math scores. Students also showed better behavior and were less likely to be chronically absent. In Wisconsin, where absenteeism has surged post-pandemic, this is exactly the kind of support our students need.

Afterschool works because it meets kids where they are. These programs offer hands-on STEM projects, arts and music, physical activity, service learning, leadership development, and workforce readiness. They give students new experiences, expose them to future career paths, and build skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. They engage the whole child—and they engage families, too.

They’re also essential for working parents. A recent survey found that nine in ten voters agree that afterschool and summer programs are vital to the economic well-being of families. Employers rely on them to ensure parents can work full hours. Yet today, two-thirds of Wisconsin families who want afterschool and summer programs can’t access them. There simply isn’t funding to support the need.

And demand is growing. In 2024 alone, more than half of 21st CCLC providers reported having waitlists. Nearly 90% said they are worried about long-term sustainability. And while the cost of operating these programs has gone up, federal investment hasn’t kept pace with inflation—meaning we’re doing more with less every year.

Affluent parents have long understood that learning opportunities outside of school hours are essential to their children’s full development. All of Wisconsin’s children deserve the same chance to thrive. These programs are a vital part of our state’s education and workforce infrastructure—and it’s time Wisconsin started treating them that way.

Yes, restoring the 21st CCLC funds was a victory. But it came only because thousands of people raised their voices. We shouldn’t have to beg to protect something so fundamental. And we shouldn’t leave our kids’ futures up to the whims of politics in Washington.

If we want every student in Wisconsin to have a chance to succeed—not just in school, but in life—we need to invest in these programs. Not just when there’s a crisis, not just when federal funds are threatened, but every year. With reliable, sustainable state funding.

Our kids—and our communities—deserve nothing less.