Barletta Presses Education Secretary DeVos on Securing America’s Schools and the Importance of Afterschool Programs

WASHINGTON – Today, during a hearing held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) questioned Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on efforts to better protect our nation’s schools and the children they serve, and urged her to provide more support for afterschool programs.

“Securing our schools and prioritizing the safety of our nation’s children should not be a difficult decision for Washington,” Barletta said.  “Our children deserve to grow up in a safe learning environment, free of fear and violence.”

Barletta, who is the father of four daughters, two of whom are teachers, pressed the secretary on how the government can better secure schools and prevent senseless tragedies like what happened in Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas that result in the deaths of too many young students.  Specifically, Barletta questioned DeVos on the goals of the School Safety Commission, established by President Donald J. Trump earlier this year, and how the commission’s findings will positively impact students, teachers, and law enforcement.

The Secretary responded that the Commission met just last week and hosted a listening session that included individuals who compiled reports addressing previous tragedies, as well as the parents of several students who have been killed in these types of attacks.  The secretary confirmed there would soon be a published timeline of events such as this listening session.  Later in the hearing, Secretary DeVos stated that she expects the commission to deliver a list of best security practices and findings by the end of the year.

Barletta, who is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Afterschool Caucus, also spoke about the importance of afterschool programs, noting that there are 10.2 million children currently enrolled in an afterschool program but that parents of another 19.4 million children say their children would participate in an afterschool program if one were available.  

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done on behalf of afterschool programs with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to continuing my support so that children in Pennsylvania and across the country can be provided with the tools they need to achieve their dreams.”

After highlighting the success of the SHINE afterschool program in Pennsylvania, Barletta asked DeVos how the Department of Education and Congress can help encourage similar successful programs so that children across the county can benefit from them.  DeVos responded that it would be helpful for other schools looking to replicate such a program if the program details and success rates could be provided in a way where they were easily accessible to those schools.

Barletta has long fought for programs supporting afterschool education.  Recently, DeVos met with Barletta in his Washington, DC office to discuss the importance of afterschool programs, touting the success of SHINE.  In March, Barletta helped secure a $20 million increase in funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, the only federal funding source for afterschool programs, bringing total funding up to $1.2 billion.  He was previously named an “Afterschool Hero” by the Afterschool Alliance, dubbed an “Afterschool Champion” by the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network, and was the only House member to receive the Congressional Voice for Children Award from the National Parent Teacher Association in 2016 due to his leadership in saving federal funding for afterschool programs. 

To watch the video of the exchange between Barletta and Secretary DeVos, click here.

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