By Mike Benjamin
Oswego, NY – After-school service providers are urging state lawmakers not to reduce their funding.
According to the After-School Corporation, Gov. David Paterson's budget proposal would cut funding for the state's Advantage After School Program by nearly $11 million.
John Albert, spokesman for the corporation, said the cuts would eliminate critical support for more than 10,000 children.
"Homework help, access to arts, access to enrichment, and to all of these things they may not be able to get in the school day and particularly one on one attention from adults [is] what after school programs really provide for the young people," he said. "But more importantly for adults, they're providing childcare. Most of these programs serve a double duty."
Albert said the proposed cuts could also cost the state as many as 3,000 jobs. He said advocates are holding press conferences and testifying to state lawmakers in an effort to keep funding for afterschool programs at the same level as in previous years.