The decision shocked—and angered—many in the OST community. But it also served as a powerful reminder of what unified advocacy can achieve. The Afterschool Alliance, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, state advocacy organizations, and countless other supporters came together with a clear and urgent message: protect afterschool and summer programs for our kids.
That collective action worked. Tens of thousands of letters and phone calls were made. Ultimately, ten Republican senators sent a letter urging the Trump administration and OMB to release the funds. Their intervention proved pivotal—and the funding was restored. It was a critical victory and a compelling example of what happens when we speak with one voice.
This moment offers two key lessons:
1. Unified advocacy works. Because we stood together, funding for 21st Century programs was saved for the 2025–26 school year. Now we must turn our focus to the fiscal year 2026 budget and ensure that children continue to have access to safe, enriching 21st Century Community Learning Center programs.
2. Wisconsin must invest in sustainable state funding. Federal support is not guaranteed. Wisconsin should join the 26 other states that have created consistent, state-level funding streams for OST programs. Today, two-thirds of Wisconsin families cannot access quality afterschool or summer programs. That must change—our kids deserve the same expanded learning opportunities that 21st Century programs provide.