Referencing a similar program in Iceland, the Republican governor said the model has been shown to prevent drug use and improve academic and social outcomes.
“The evidence is clear,” he said during his State of the State address. “Kids who participate in afterschool activities and programs do better in school and in life than kids who don’t.”
What Scott did not mention is how the state would pay for the plan — or that it’s not really a plan at all. Rather, it’s a call for legislators to create a task force that could design a system that would be implemented years from now. His only two clear requests: the program be voluntary and not rely on any property taxes.
Democratic leaders were quick to point out the lack of specifics. But while the scant details that have been made public suggest that Scott’s proposal is slightly less ambitious than it may have seemed at first, one legislator said he was still encouraged.
“I’m as big a skeptic of the administration as anybody,” said Sen. Phil Baruth (D-Chittenden), who chairs the Senate Committee on Education. “But I think this is perfectly sincere, perfectly authentic, in terms of a bipartisan stretching out of the governor’s hand.”
Baruth was briefed on the plan Wednesday along with several other lawmakers who sit on the education committees in the Senate and House. The senator said both chambers have been taking testimony for years on a potential expansion to Vermonters’ access to afterschool programs, and the lawmakers were “delighted” to learn of Scott’s suggestion.
Baruth said he’s since asked legislative counsel to draft a bill that would create the governor’s desired task force. He expected the bill to be ready next week.
Equally pleased with the idea was Holly Morehouse, executive director of the nonprofit Vermont Afterschool, which focuses on supporting such learning opportunities. Morehouse said her organization received a call from the governor’s office a few hours before the speech letting her know of his proposal.
She was specifically encouraged by Scott’s focus on equity gaps, because access to afterschool programs varies greatly depending on where children live, she said.
One area of the plan that she hoped might have some wiggle room was the timeline. “I understand wanting to be careful and figure it out,” she said. “[But] we also have a lot of base work done. It’s not like we’re starting from an idea from scratch.”
Scott’s office released a two-page brief following the speech that shows the task force would ideally share its report in January 2021. The legislature and the governor’s office could then work together over the next two years for full implementation in 2024.
Baruth acknowledged the slow rollout is the one aspect of the plan where he and the governor differ. He said the state created dual enrollment and early college access programs in nearly half the time under the Shumlin administration.
Still, Baruth said he was glad that he and other legislators were keyed into the governor’s thinking. The administration has not always been known for keeping lawmakers in the loop, he said, which is part of why he believes Scott is sincere.
“I have seen when this administration is not willing to hear from legislators,” Baruth said. “That’s not this. This seemed to be a very genuine piece of outreach, and I think the governor honestly, before he leaves office, wants to put this program in place.”
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I just love how if some one comes up with an ‘idea’ which may solve a problem in the long run, and if ‘they’ didn’t think of it first,’they’ shoot it down as too general, no meat to it…it’s a start!!!
“Hey, kids! Here’s an afterschool program for you! Oh, and sorry about the whole toxic chemical environment thing. It’s just that businesses are more important than children’s lives, that’s all. You’ll understand when you’re older.”
Love it. Second commenter proves first commenter’s point.
“Reached via email, ‘knowyourassumptions’ — who has left 478 comments on the Seven Days site over the past three years — expressed ‘fear of being attacked/assailed for saying anything critical of the Bernie/progressive/politically correct orthodoxy that dominates in Vermont and is, in my view, intolerant of and hostile to any criticism.'” – Seven Days
So Scott has a good idea and wants to be Responsible and have a good plan in place but that is not fast enough for DZ who will want to just raise taxes and throw money at it
There is a simple way to implement such a plan that doesn’t cost taxpayers anything. Have people on assistance give back by doing volunteer work in some capacity. It will grow to a very encompassing program where adults and children participate together, foster increased self-confidence and sense of purpose, and keep children happy and busy.
Politicians won’t like it because it doesn’t cost taxpayers.
I thought there was already a number of after school programs, not just sports but numerous clubs. The last thing any school needs is for the state to get involved. How many millions will the state throw at studies and task forces with no results.
What is with the urge to make Vermont more like ICELAND of all places? This is at least the second time i’ve read of comparisons by public figures and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it at other times.