A proposed $400 million cut to a federal after-school program would mean only some 4,000 Utah children would be served by the program next school year, Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, told educators and students Thursday.
While the fiscal year 2003 appropriation for the federal program was $1 billion, the proposed 2004 budget for the program is reduced to $600 million. That means 4,198 Utah students would be served next year, compared with 15,700 students served by the program during the 2000-01 school year, he said.
Matheson was touting the benefits of after-school programs and pledging his support for their funding while describing the impact the lost funds would have on the state.
He said the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program would mean cuts to Utah's after-school, weekend and summer programs by more than 50 percent.
"People should be aware there's a program with a track record of success, and the funding's going to be cut," he said.
Children involved in after-school programs are more likely to turn in their homework on time, attend class regularly and perform well in school, he said.
"It keeps them in school, it keeps them out of trouble," Matheson said.
He visited an after-school program at Clayton Middle School Thursday afternoon, where he pointed out the number of students who stayed after hours even in 100-degree weather.
Lynne McKenna, adult and community education specialist for Granite School District, said the low 10-to-one student-to-teacher ratio in after-school programs offers students who normally misbehave a chance to get attention, preventing them from acting out in class.
"It makes an enormous difference," she said.
E-mail: ehayes@desnews.com