Create After-School Learning Centers For Young Kids

 

The purpose of this bill is to create safe, free after-school centers for young kids. Kids will go there after their

normal school ends (around 3–5 p.m.) until their parents come home. In these centers, kids can learn, play, read, and do

fun activities like drawing, STEM games, or sports instead of spending hours on YouTube or silent cartoons that can hurt

their learning and talking skills.

 

Many kids go home after school and spend too much time on phones or watching silent cartoons. This can make it harder

for them to talk, learn, and play with other kids.

Young kids’ brains learn fast, so they need real talking, interaction, and fun learning activities after school. Parents

are often busy or working, so kids don’t always have a safe place to go.

These centers will give kids a safe and healthy place to learn, play, read, talk with other kids, and do activities.

This helps them grow and get ready for the future. When they go home, they are more focused and tired from learning, not

glued to screens.

 

1. After-School Learning Center: A place where kids can learn, play, read, do arts, STEM, sports, and other fun

activities after school.

2. Young kids: Kids ages 4 to 10.

3. Staff: Adults who help kids, watch them, and run activities.

4. Harmful screen time: Watching long videos or silent cartoons that don’t help kids learn or talk.

 

Money will come from the state budget for children and families. Extra money can come from grants, local organizations,

or donations. Volunteers can also help.

 

The state will check the centers every year to make sure they are safe and helping kids learn. If a center is not doing

this, it must fix the problems in 60 days.

 

This bill will start on June 1, 2027.