Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Encourages Partnerships to Benefit Students, Communities
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today hosted a series of Afterschool Summits around the state to share with business leaders the opportunities and advantages of afterschool program partnerships.
"Afterschool programs offer real solutions to real problems," Blunt said. "They give students opportunities to learn and grow and give communities benefits we can see. These programs strengthen Missouri by supporting today’s working families and building tomorrow’s leaders."
Just 12 percent of children in Missouri working families have access to afterschool programs, while 33 percent of children in Missouri working families are unsupervised in the hours after school. Afterschool programs keep kids in a safe environment while parents are at work. They offer high-quality, extra learning opportunities that can help students improve academically, socially, physically and emotionally.
Today’s summits, presented in cooperation with the Missouri Afterschool State Network, gave business leaders an opportunity to learn about afterschool programs and how they might participate in developing and supporting partnerships in their communities. The events also highlighted successful partnerships already in place in each area.
The summits are part of Blunt’s This is Your School initiative. The initiative encourages communities to work together to take responsibility for the success of Missouri students.
The governor has kept his promise to make education the number one public policy priority in our state. He worked with the General Assembly to secure a $158 million funding increase for education and draft a funding formula that focuses on the needs of Missouri school children.
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