On Saturday, December 17, 2011 Congress completed work on the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act with the Senate approving the measure by a vote of 67 to 32. The legislation includes the Fiscal Year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Based on theFY2012 21st CCLC funding level of $1,151,673,000 (a result of a .189% across the board cut), we have calculated the estimated amount of21st CCLC funding for each state using the FY11 funding formula. The FY12 formula will be applied by the U.S. Department of Education at a later date, but for now, the figures are a good approximation of what your state will receive. Click here to view estimated amounts per state.

As a reminder, the omnibus spending bill also includes report language relating to 21st CCLC that addresses efforts to use these funds for a longer school day, stating that efforts to extend the school day should “align with and complement, rather than replicate, the regular school day by offering a range of activities that capture student interest and support student engagement to promote higher class attendance, reduce risk for retention or dropping out, and include activities that promote good health.” Furthermore, the report language directs the Department of Education to provide guidance and support technical assistance on how to form and maintain strong community-school partnerships, promote continuous quality improvement and ensure that funded programs meet the needs of individual students. The Afterschool Alliance and friends of afterschool helped suggest this language, which also restricts the Department from showing preference or priority for particular models of expanded learning opportunities such as extended day programs.

This is a nice way to wrap up the year, with only a modest cut to 21st CCLC, some increases to other afterschool related funding streams like CCDF and TRIO, and report language that sets the stage for the possibility of finding some common ground on expanded learning in 2012.

Some key line items are:

• 21stCentury Community Learning Centers initiative (Education): $1.151 billion; a decrease of about $2 million
• Title I (Education): $14.495 billion; an increase of about $30 million
• Promise Neighborhoods (Education): $59,887 million; an increase of about $30 million
• Corporation for National and Community Service (including AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA programs) $1.05 billion; a decrease of about $100 million
• Child Care Development Block Grant (HHS) $2.3 billion; an increase of $60 million

For further information:
Click here for the Budget Analysis 21st CCLC Funding Levels.
Click here for Education FY2012 Appropriations.