At a national summit on Tuesday, March 24, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will join education, business and law enforcement leaders to make sure that any bill passed includes funding for after school programming.

"Schwarzenegger is calling on Congress to nix its plans to cut federal funding specifically designated for after-school programs in a proposed reauthorization of the George W. Bush-era No Child Left Behind law," reported The Washington Times. "A proposed House bill eliminated the so-called 21st Century Community Learning Centers along with 68 other programs in favor of a flexibility grant that would allow states how to decide to use funds."

In recent years, after-school programs have become a "lightning rod" issue.

"An increasing number of children come from homes where both parents work, making after-school care a necessity for many families. In 1965, 4 in 10 children had more than one parents who worked; by 2014, that number had risen to more than 6 in 10." Organizations like the Afterschool Alliance have risen to the occasion in attempt to address prevalent issues.

The organization "[estimates] that more than 10 million children are enrolled in after-school programs. The Afterschool Alliance also learned that about 20 million more students would participate in after school if a program were available to them.

Schwarzenegger has been a longtime advocate for after school education, and held a similar national afterschool education summit in 2003, describing his efforts as a "crusade." "He pointed to data showing that the highest rate of juvenile crime and gang-related violence takes place between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. - the hours kids are most likely to be unsupervised."

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By Samantha DiMauro, Education World Contributor