Erquiaga: Why Trump’s ‘America First’ Budget Puts Children In Poverty Last

Erquiaga: Why Trump’s ‘America First’ Budget Puts Children in Poverty Last

During my visit to schools in Atlanta, I witnessed the potential consequences of President Trump’s budget, which could negatively impact these educational institutions. Typically, these visits are filled with positive stories of students benefiting from the dropout prevention program that I am a part of. However, the educators in Atlanta were concerned about the severe budget cuts and the potential impact on the students’ futures.

The proposed budget by the administration includes a 13 percent reduction in the U.S. Department of Education’s budget, which amounts to around $9 billion. Unfortunately, these cuts will disproportionately affect the 14.5 million children living in poverty, not just in Georgia, but all across the country.

One particular cut that exemplifies the disregard for our most vulnerable students is the elimination of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. This program has successfully served 1.6 million children and youth across the United States, providing before-school, after-school, and summer programs. These programs offer support to help children navigate challenging circumstances.

As the president and CEO of Communities in Schools, an organization dedicated to helping at-risk students thrive academically and in life, I know that defunding these after-school programs will have devastating consequences. These are not just services that we throw tax dollars at; they are proven programs that positively change lives every day. This is precisely how public-private partnerships, which are highly valued in conservative circles, are designed to work.

To illustrate the impact of these programs, let’s look at two examples from different states:

In Georgia, the local CIS network receives $3.3 million in funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. This funding helps support over 2,200 students living in poverty, providing after-school services like tutoring and homework assistance. Additionally, these programs often offer snacks, meals, and life skills programs such as drug and alcohol prevention. During my visit to Georgia, I personally heard from educators who expressed concern about how these budget cuts would severely affect these vulnerable students.

In Texas, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program at Communities in Schools of North Texas supports over 1,300 students. This program provides academic support through homework help, tutoring, and project-based learning in various subjects. It also emphasizes character development, goal setting, and social-emotional support. Moreover, it exposes students to college and career opportunities through field trips and additional learning activities. Many of these students will be the first in their families to graduate from a university, and these programs play a significant role in their achievements.

According to Ann Pape, CEO of CIS of North Texas, the immediate impact of these proposed cuts would be devastating for students and their families who rely on these programs. Furthermore, the long-term consequences will be seen in higher societal costs, such as academic gaps, increased involvement in criminal activities, and a lack of skills necessary for success in the workforce.

The President’s Office of Management and Budget faced criticism for defending these cuts by claiming there is no evidence of educational benefits from after-school programs. To address this, it’s important to look at the data rather than relying solely on anecdotes.

Thankfully, we have ample evidence to support the effectiveness of these programs.

CIS has gathered a body of evidence showing that our comprehensive approach helps overcome the barriers of poverty that often hinder academic success. Our most recent Impact Report revealed that among our case-managed students, 99 percent remained in school, 93 percent were promoted to the next grade, 91 percent graduated or obtained a GED, and 88 percent improved their academic performance.

Moreover, nearly two decades of research consistently demonstrate that students who participate in after-school programs have better attendance, lower suspension rates, higher academic achievement, reduced dropout rates, improved reading and math skills, enhanced academic self-esteem, and developed social and emotional skills. Additional evidence supporting these claims can be found here and here.

Dale Erquiaga currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Communities in Schools.