HAHN FOR MAYOR
18553 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CAMPAIGN OFFICE
MARCH 07, 2001	818/705-6337

HAHN ANNOUNCES AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROPOSAL

Would expand after school programs to every LAUSD elementary school

Los Angeles City Attorney and mayoral candidate Jim Hahn today announced his plan to expand after school programs to every elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Hahn made his announcement at Selma Avenue Elementary School in Hollywood where students are served by the L.A.'s BEST program, which gives students the opportunity to participate in supervised activities such as organized sports, drama, and homework club.

"Today I am proposing to expand L.A.'s BEST to every elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District because every child should have the opportunity to participate in high quality and fun after school programs," said Hahn.

Hahn was joined by parents and students from Selma Avenue Elementary School, including Rowena Smith who credits the L.A.'s BEST program for helping to boost her son Jason's confidence at school and for providing a positive environment where students can work together on homework. Another parent, Maria Ruvalcava, is hoping her child will soon be admitted into the L.A.'s BEST program from the waiting list.

Currently, L.A.'s BEST serves 76 elementary schools and 150 additional schools are served by other after school programs. Hahn’s plan would expand L.A.'s BEST to serve the 201 schools that do not have after school programs.

Hahn proposed to fund the additional L.A.'s BEST sites by pursuing the many state and federal grants available for after school programs. He noted that Los Angeles misses out on state and federal funding for its programs. For example, last year the U.S. Department of Education’s 21st Century Fund made available $846 million for after school programs. San Francisco received $2.5 million from this fund, while Los Angeles received just $715,000 – even though the Los Angeles Unified School District serves more than 12 times as many K-12 students as the San Francisco Unified School District.

"That's less than one dollar per student," said Hahn. "The city can and should help secure additional funding for after school programs."

As mayor, Hahn would establish a central grant supervisor to provide direction and support for after school program grant applications. He also pledged to personally lobby legislators in Sacramento and Washington to ensure Los Angeles receives its fair share of funding for after school programs.