Many years ago, during the summer after I graduated from college, I took a job with a Milwaukee area recreation department. One of my responsibilities was running a t-ball program for 5- and 6-year-olds.

On the first day, I remember looking out at about 35 children who were ready to play. The problem was that I had received exactly zero training on how to manage that many young kids at once. Sure, I had completed a high school teacher education program, but managing a group of energetic kindergartners with plastic bats and balls turned out to be a learning experience of its own. I’ll admit, I was a little terrified. Fortunately, I had a high school assistant who knew a lot more than I did. If she hadn’t been there, I’m not sure I would have come back for day two.

-But Wisconsin Families Still Face an Uncertain Future

It’s been a troubling summer for anyone who cares about children, families, and the thousands of students who rely on summer and afterschool programs across Wisconsin. In early July, without warning and without sound legal authority, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced it would withhold billions in federal education funds—including money that had already been signed into law months earlier.

Among the funding frozen was support for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLCs)—the only federal program dedicated exclusively to afterschool and summer learning. In Wisconsin, more than 18,000 students across over 150 programs rely on this funding for safe, enriching places to go when school is out. These programs aren’t extras. They are essential for student success and family stability.