An Act to Expand Access To Afterschool and Out-Of-School Time Programs
A persistent daily gap between school dismissal and the end of the workday forces parents to reduce work hours or leave the workforce, costing the Massachusetts economy $3 billion annually. Due to decentralization, existing afterschool options are highly uneven, expensive (averaging $5,500/year), and severely limited in capacity.
This bill establishes a dedicated Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Education Opportunity Fund, securing stable revenues by earmarking 5% of marijuana sales tax and 3% of surplus Fair Share surtaxes. Administered by DESE, the fund will provide competitive grants to expand program hours, increase staff salaries, and lower tuition. Preference is given to programs open until 6:00 p.m. that accept vouchers and provide transportation.