Requesting President Bush and Congress to fully fund the 21st Century Learning Center Program in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget as previously authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia wishes to support every effort to provide opportunities for excellence in its students; and

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia recognizes that after school programs:

Provide a safe, friendly learning environment for our children, which boosts their academic achievement;

Support working families by ensuring that their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends;

Build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of our young people; and

Encourage families to become more effective partners in their children's education; and

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia is disappointed that Congress has failed to increase funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program in Fiscal Year 2004; and

WHEREAS, 94,261 young people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could have had access to after school programs if Congress had fully funded the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to the level authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That this Council urgently requests President Bush to include the fully authorized amount of 2 billion dollars for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program in his Fiscal Year 2005 budget.

FURTHER RESOLVED

,

That this Council urgently requests Congress to fund the 21st Century Learning Centers Program in the Fiscal Year 2005 budget at 2 billion dollars as was previously authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That this resolution shall be forwarded to the members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation, Secretary of Education Ron Paige, and President Bush.

This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.

End