AFTER SCHOOL Act

This bill, known as the AFTER SCHOOL Act, establishes a grant program to support after-school programs in communities facing high rates of juvenile crime. The Attorney General is tasked with awarding these grants to eligible applicants, which include local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations . To qualify, these entities must be located in or serve secondary schools within counties where the juvenile offense rate, based on FBI data, is at least 10 percent. Grant funds are intended to operate or expand after-school programs for eligible students in grades 6 through 12. These programs must be held when school is out of session and include activities with an educational purpose, such as expanding learning opportunities, fostering foundational skill development, providing youth leadership opportunities, and creating a safe and supportive environment. Grantees are required to submit annual reports on program effectiveness, and the Attorney General will then report a summary to Congress. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out these provisions.