§ 16-88-2 - Findings. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-88-2

   § 16-88-2  Findings. – (a) The general assembly hereby finds that participating in high quality afterschool and summer learning programs provides children and youth neededresources to succeed in school and in life.

   (b) The general assembly also finds that in 2005,seventy-four percent (74%) of children ages six (6) to seventeen (17) in RhodeIsland had all parents in the workforce, higher than the U.S. average ofsixty-eight percent (68%). On school days, the hours between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drug,alcohol, cigarettes and sex. Differences in summer learning accounted forsixty-five percent (65%) of the gap in reading scores between upper-incomestudents who went to four (4) year colleges and low-income high-schooldropouts. After school programs have been shown to support local schools byproviding children and youth with opportunities to engage in hands-onactivities that hold students' interests and develop their skills and a senseof competence.

   (c) The general assembly also finds that the need for afterschool and summer learning programs is demonstrated by the Rhode Islanddepartment of education grant competition for after school and summer learningprograms funding. In each of the competitions; almost double the money has beenrequested than was available for funding.

   (d) Furthermore, the general assembly finds that there is anexisting infrastructure of after school and summer learning programs in RhodeIsland serving school age children from kindergarten to 12th grade that issupported through state and federal investments in child care, 21st centurycommunity learning centers program, child opportunity zones, community-basedorganizations and public schools. It is the intent of the general assembly tosupport a system of publicly-funded, high quality after school and summerlearning programs that are operated through a diverse delivery network,including child care, 21st century community learning centers program, childopportunity zones, community-based organizations and public districts.

   (e) By enacting this law, the general assembly acknowledgesthe need to adequately prepare all children to succeed in school and life byproviding access to publicly-funded high quality after school and summerlearning programs.