By Katie Landes, Director of GSAN

Have you been keeping up with the ESEA reauthorization process? If you’re all up to date, skip to the bottom to find out how you can take action today!

What’s going on in the U.S. House?

The debate on ESEA reauthorization reached the floor of the House of Representatives, but House Republicans opted not to hold a vote on the ESEA reauthorization bill (HR 5) as planned. It is unclear if the House will attempt to vote on the ESEA bill next week or if a longer postponement will take place.

HR 5 does not reauthorize the 21^st CCLC initiative, which could lead to more than 35,000 students in Georgia losing access to desperately needed afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs.  For more information on HR 5, check out the Afterschool Alliance’s blog post.

What’s going on in the U.S. Senate?

The Senate’s draft ESEA reauthorization is still undergoing bipartisan negotiations in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee. The committee will likely be discussing the bill in the next few weeks, so now is the time to reach out to Georgia’s Senators and the HELP Committee members (which includes Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson!) and let them know that afterschool programs matter and urge them to #invest3to6. Maintaining the 21^st CCLC initiative will ensure that young people across the country have access to the much needed afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs that keep students safe, inspire learning and provide a lifeline for our hard working families.

 We’re heading to D.C.

Next week, GSAN will join afterschool professionals and advocates from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the Afterschool for All Challenge and the National Afterschool Association Convention. On Tuesday, March 10, we’ll be heading up to Capitol Hill to meet face to face with Georgia’s Members of Congress and urge them to support kids and families who rely on afterschool programs.

Can’t join us in D.C.? We’ve got you covered!

You can still add your voice by joining the Afterschool Alliance’s Thunderclap campaign. Joining the #Invest3to6 Thunderclap will schedule a message to be blasted out from your Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr account on March 10 at 1PM EST (one time only!).  The message is customizable, so if you have an extra minute, be sure to tag your representatives in Congress and use our America After 3PM dashboard to add Georgia specific stats. Don’t forget to mobilize your friends, family, and networks to join the campaign, too! Then, on March 10^th, watch afterschool take over the Internet – thanks to you!

And, don’t forget to reach out to Georgia’s U.S. Senators and urge them to #invest3to6 and maintain the 21^st CCLC initiative! With our action alert, you can make your voice heard with just a few clicks!