NEWYORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the signing of Executive Order 54 creating the Commission on Universal After-School.
The commission will bring together a cross-sector of leaders from community based after-school providers, advocacy groups, philanthropy, and the business sector to develop a strategy to deliver a universal after-school system that is sustainable in the long term and ensures non-profit organizations have the tools they need to hire and train staff and deliver quality programming.
The creation of the Commission on Universal After-School supports Mayor Adams’ vision of “After-school for all” for all public students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The commission’s work will build on the Adams administration’s historic $331 million commitment to support the addition of 20,000 new seats over the next three school years, bringing universal after-school programming to a total of 184,000 public school students as funding is increased to a total investment of $755 million annually.
“It takes a city to raise a child, but for too long, families in the five boroughs have not had access to affordable child care or after-school programming, forcing many to leave the city they love. Our administration listened to parents’ concerns and not only reduced the cost of subsidized child care for a family of four to less than one-tenth the cost it was before we came into office, but we also launched ‘After-School for All’ to make sure that all of our children have a safe space to learn and be taken care of after school,” said Mayor Adams.
“Every parent knows that learning doesn’t just take place in a classroom; our children are shaped by so much, and after-school is a critical piece of that. That’s why our administration is stopping parents from having to choose between an iPad as a babysitter or real after-school programming. The Commission on Universal After-School will work hand-in-hand with our administration to develop a sustainable roadmap to deliver after-school programming for all children across the five boroughs. I’m grateful to the commission members for working to make this historic program one that works for New York City families.”
“Our administration is laser focused on making New York City the best place to raise a family, and that means making sure all children have a safe and enriching place to learn, grow, and play once the school day ends,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar.
“The Commission on Universal After‑School will play a critical role in making after‑school for all a reality. I am proud to lead this long‑awaited expansion as we continue collaborating with New York City Public Schools, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and members of the Commission. I am confident that together we can achieve Mayor Adams’s vision of ‘After‑School for All.’”
“I am honored to be appointed by Mayor Adams to serve alongside this group of incredibly dedicated individuals to establish a secure foundation of high-quality afterschool programming for the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Dennis M. Walcott, Commission on Universal After-School co-chair, and president and CEO, Queens Public Library.
“It is crucial that children and families have affordable access to opportunities that provide continued learning, connection, and growth when the school day ends, and I look forward to the work ahead of us to support them.”
“It is a privilege to co-chair this commission and drive innovative solutions that will empower every child — regardless of their zip code — with access to a quality after-school program,” said Grace Bonilla, Commission on Universal After-School co-chair, and president and CEO, United Way of New York City.
“New York is a city of promise. Families across the five boroughs deserve the opportunity to tap into that promise and thrive here, in the city that they love. Addressing this need, universal after-school, a multigenerational approach, will level the playing field by providing enriching, safe environments for all children. Caregivers will also be able to actively engage in the workforce without fear that their child has no place to go after the school day ends. I am honored to be a part of this critical work.”
