California’s Afterschool Expansion

1. California’s Afterschool Expansion

2. Prop 49 Primer • 56 percent of voters approved in 2002 • Raised state after school funding to $550 million • Implementation began a few months ago

3. Prop. 49Planning for California ExpansionJoe Ames • Funded by WT Grant • Unique opportunity • Private consulting firm and public policy • Chronicle – the narrative • Take Aways for other planners • Report is available at www.wtgrantfdn.org

4. Prop 49Chronicle on Planning • The Basics: Research and Effective Advocacy • Research and analysis provided clear view • Elevated the work of planners and advocates. • Make the program attractive to providers before jumping to the nuts and bolts of roll-out.

5. Prop 49Chronicle on Planning • Group Dynamics: Utilizing Expertise and Recognizing Limitations • Tapping expertise among providers, agencies and advocates useful • Research and facilitation skills were complementary • Identifying strengths and recognizing limitations is also important

6. Prop 49Chronicle on Planning • Investment: Strategic Partnerships and Early Buy-in • Best to have all parties on board with equal intensity • Deep relationships outside of education can be critical in sparking useful new synergies

7. Prop 49Chronicle on Planning • Lasting Value: Defining, Creating and Sustaining Quality Programs • Long overdue, nuanced conversation several key drivers of quality at scale • technical assistance, workforce development and accountability. • Dynamic, evolving conversation will ultimately determine whether Proposition 49 delivers on its full promise.

8. Prop 49Communication and OutreachSteve Fowler • Quality program sites as models- distributed across the state’s media markets • Research that shows that after-school will keep kids safe, support working families and inspire children to learn

9. Prop 49Communication and Outreach • A shared succinct message that resonates with voters and opinion leaders • On-going training of after-school community on messages and how to use them • A drumbeat of media coverage on the value of and need for after-school

10. Prop 49Communication and Outreach • A history of bi-partisan support • Spokespersons who can gain media and policy maker attention • Law enforcement voices on your side • Working relationships with state and local education leaders

11. Prop 49Communication and Outreach • An understanding of budget and revenue circumstances and history • Annual use of Lights On Afterschool! as a public education and coalition building tool at local and state levels • An openness to new champions and allies joining the movement - even if it means surrendering some control of the movement

12. Prop 49Communication and Outreach • Foundation funding for outreach and advocacy • A forum or "open space“ for stakeholders work out differences and build consensus- needs to include CBOs, school-based programs, school-age care, recreation and faith-based programs • A constant willingness to explore new areas

13. PROPOSTITION 49 BALLOT TREND

14. Prop 49ImplementationJennifer Peck Reform Effort • 20-30% annually going unspent • Difficulty managing/maintaining program

15. Prop 49Implementation Legislative Reforms • Grant vs. Reimbursement • Increased daily after-school rate • Priority for funding going to low-income schools

16. Prop 49Implementation Reforms, continued • Funding match decrease from half to third • Streamlined application process • More federal 21st CCLC money directed to high school • Changes to evaluation system

17. Prop 49Implementation Factors that made reforms successful • Release of new funds was imminent • Governor had a great interest in seeing Prop 49 succeed • Democratic leaders, who created the original program, also had a great interest in success • Advocacy community in agreement about reforms

18. Prop 49Implementation Funding Roll-Out • Application process in the fall of 2006 • Awards posted in February, 2007 • Demand very high – only half of applicant schools received grants • Official notifications began going out in March • Timing of program start-up varied across state • Full programming to start in fall of 2007

19. Prop 49Implementation Roll-Out, continued • Start-up training and technical assistance slow to arrive through state department of education • Statewide and regional intermediaries stepped in to support new programs, though coverage varied across state • CDE currently formulating plan for how to spend training and t/a dollars

20. Prop 49Implementation Implementation Challenges • Hiring qualified staff • Training new staff • Coordination with schools/academic alignment • Negotiation of space for program at school sites

21. Prop 49Implementation Policy Issues for Consideration • Quick vs. phased-in expansion of programs needs to be carefully considered • Application process needs to be accessible to all applicants, and be useful for review, as well as implementation • Design and Evaluation of programs must align with best research as well as youth/parent/community needs and expectations

22. Prop 49Implementation Policy Issues, continued • In most cases, sustainability beyond grant funding is not attainable • Grantees should be eligible for renewal if they are meeting program outcomes • Sufficient professional development and technical assistance resources are critical • Better coordination between after school and SES services would benefit students

23. Questions

24. How to reach us • Joe Ames – joe@amesonline.net • Steve Fowler – steve_fowler@fowlerhoffman.info • Jennifer Peck – jennifer@bayareapartnership.org