After-School Children's Education (ACE) Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``After-School Children's Education 
(ACE) Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Children's activities outside of school have a critical 
        and long lasting impact on school achievement and future 
        success.
            (2) Approximately 24,000,000 school-age children are in 
        need of adult supervision while their parents are at work.
            (3) Experts estimate that almost 5,000,000 school-age 
        children spend time without adult supervision during a typical 
        week and that these children are more likely to engage in risky 
        behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity, 
        loitering on street corners, and truancy.
            (4) The prosperity of the Nation depends upon maximizing 
        and fulfilling the potential of its young people.
            (5) Many parents report that they would like to enroll 
        their children in after-school enrichment activities but that 
        they are prevented from doing so by prohibitive costs, 
        transportation difficulties, worries about neighborhood safety, 
        and a shortage of available options.
            (6) While there are gaps in the availability of after-
        school programs, there are many outstanding programs for the 
        Nation's youth, including programs sponsored by the Boys and 
        Girls Clubs of America, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl 
        Scouts of America, YMCAs, mentoring programs, and athletic and 
        other programs operated by public schools, churches, day care 
        centers, parks, recreation centers, family day care, community 
        organizations, law enforcement agencies, service providers, and 
        for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
            (7) Before the United States can meaningfully expand the 
        supply of after-school programs, accurate information must be 
        available regarding the number, type, and appropriateness of 
        after-school programs available, significant areas of unmet 
        need in the quality and availability of after-school programs, 
        barriers which prevent or deter the participation of children 
        in after-school programs, and barriers to improving the quality 
        and availability of after-school programs.

SEC. 3. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM GRANTS.

    The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
9858 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 657A(b)(3), by inserting ``, including 
        after-school programs'' after ``child care'';
            (2) in section 657B, by striking ``$1,000,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$1,010,000,000''; and
            (3) by inserting after section 658G the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 658H. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM GRANTS.

    ``A State that receives funds to carry out this Act for a fiscal 
year shall use not less than 1 percent of the amount of such funds, in 
coordination with child care resource and referral centers to the 
extent practicable for activities that are designed to improve the 
quality and availability of after-school programs, including one or 
more of the following:
            ``(1) Informational assistance, including assistance to 
        kindergartens, elementary schools, and high schools within the 
        State, for placement of children in kindergarten through high 
        school in age-appropriate, enriching after-school programs.
            ``(2) Coordination of after-school programs, including 
        those funded with Federal or State funds.
            ``(3) Development of innovative, age-appropriate, age-
        appealing, and enriching after-school programs.
            ``(4) Development of creative funding strategies to help 
        make after-school programs affordable for all parents.''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the 
Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, and in consultation with 
the Secretary of Education, the Attorney General, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, and representatives from State child care agencies and 
child care resource and referral centers, youth development 
organizations, State and local education agencies, relevant private 
foundations, and other relevant organizations, shall establish and 
maintain a national clearinghouse to provide technical assistance 
regarding the establishment and operation of after-school programs and 
models of after-school programs. The national clearinghouse shall be 
available to the public, including via Internet, and shall serve as a 
resource for child care organizations, communities, and individuals 
seeking to improve the quality and availability of after-school 
programs.

SEC. 5. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the General Accounting Office shall transmit to Congress a report 
containing the following:
            (1) For each State, a description of the types of after-
        school programs that are available for students in kindergarten 
        through grade 12, including programs sponsored by the Boys and 
        Girls Clubs of America, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl 
        Scouts of America, YMCAs, and athletic and other programs 
        operated by public schools and other State and local agencies.
            (2) For 15 communities selected to represent a variety of 
        regional, population, and demographic profiles, a detailed 
        analysis of all of the after-school programs that are available 
        for students in kindergarten through grade 12, including 
        programs sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the 
        Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, YMCAs, 
        mentoring programs, athletic programs, and programs operated by 
        public schools, churches, day care centers, parks, recreation 
        centers, family day care, community organizations, law 
        enforcement agencies, service providers, and for-profit and 
        nonprofit organizations.
            (3) For each State, a description of significant areas of 
        unmet need in the quality and availability of after-school 
        programs.
            (4) For each State, a description of barriers which prevent 
        or deter the participation of children in after-school 
        programs.
            (5) For each State, a description of barriers to improving 
        the quality and availability of after-school programs.
            (6) A list of activities, other than after-school programs, 
        in which students in kindergarten through grade 12 participate 
        when not in school, including jobs, volunteer opportunities, 
        and other non-school affiliated programs.
            (7) An analysis of the value of the activities listed 
        pursuant to paragraph (6) to the well-being and educational 
        development of students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Summary: After-School Children's Education (ACE) Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to provide for grants, a national clearinghouse, and a report to improve the quality and availability of after-school programs. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for child care programs under the Act. Requires States to use at least one percent of each fiscal year's funds, in coordination with child care resource and referral centers to the extent practicable, for activities designed to improve the quality and availability of after-school programs, including: (1) informational assistance, (2) coordination of after-school programs, (3) development of innovative, age-appropriate, age-appealing, and enriching after-school programs. Or (4) development of creative funding strategies to make after-school programs affordable for all parents. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, to establish a clearinghouse for after-school program technical assistance and models. Requires the clearinghouse to be available to the public, including via Internet. Directs the General Accounting Office to report to the Congress on after-school programs in each State: (1) describing types of programs, unmet needs, and barriers to participation, quality, and improvement. And (2) analyzing in detail such programs in 15 communities selected to represent a variety of regional, population, and demographic profiles. Includes among after-school programs in such report those sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, YMCAs, and athletic and other programs operated by public schools and other State and local agencies.