Funding freeze threatens after-school and summer programs in Palm Beach

More than $6 billion in federal grants, which help fund after-school and summer programs nationwide, have been frozen by the Trump administration — raising concerns for families, educators and nonprofit leaders across the country.

The freeze affects 21st Century Community Learning Centers, including programs operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs. In Palm Beach County, Boys and Girls Club CEO Jaene Miranda says the decision could have serious consequences for thousands of children and hundreds of workers.

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"It was a surprise to all of us because this is funding that was approved congressionally and signed off by the president. This is part of the fiscal year 2025 budget. So there was no reason to think that the funding would be there for us,"

Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide typically help lower-income families with summer and after school programs, with affordable prices of $30 a year per family, compared to other summer and after school programs that cost thousands of dollars. "This type of programming typically ranges from $6,000 a year to $12,000 a year. For a family, for one child, and when these parents are struggling just to make sure that they have food on the table, that they have a roof over their heads, the last thing that they need is that expense for that type of childcare,"

Miranda said, "Traditionally, you will find our clubs in the neighborhoods where there's high poverty. So those are the kids that we're targeting. We do some wonderful things, like transport the kids from the local schools. So let's use Riviera Beach or even Belle Glade as an example, we actually will bus our kids to our club sites, so that the parents don't have to worry about them arriving safely, because typically in those neighborhoods, there may be a tendency to be higher crime. So we don't want the kids, especially a six-year-old, walking the streets to come to our, to our environment."

According to Miranda, the 20 Boys and Girls Club locations in the county are at risk of losing approximately $18 million in funding that supports both summer and after-school programming.

"I think that leaving thousands of kids, and I'm talking hundreds of thousands across the nation, without a place to go after school, during, you know, just in a few short weeks is probably something that, I think, my hope is that the administration will release the funds shortly," she said.

More than 8,000 children across Palm Beach County, including those in the public school system and Boys and Girls Clubs, would be affected by the funding loss. In addition, approximately 720 employees could be impacted.

"And that means their families will have to look for alternatives, and we have a very short window," Miranda said.

Miranda noted that the organization hasn't had access to the federal funds since July 1. With the school year approaching quickly, planning has become increasingly difficult.

"The funds are passed through to the states in July, and then they were allowed to start using those funds on August 1. As you know, since the schools don't start until August 11, we still have a couple of weeks. I understand that the administration wants to do reviews of programs and make sure that we're being fiduciary, really responsible to the citizens of this country. But there's a way to do those reviews and still not cause devastating effect to the local communities," she said.

While the freeze remains in place, organizational leaders are preparing for various scenarios in case the funding is permanently cut. Miranda is urging people to contact state representatives about how important the Boys and Girls Club are to communities.

When asked why the 21st century should be preserved, Miranda responded, "It's the only federal funding that is actually passed through to the states that supports after school or what we like to call not, you know, non-school time programming, which includes summer camp, of course, or any non-school days, like when teachers have their teacher planning days. The 21st century is there to support us. It's the only, it's also a federal pass-through to the states. So I know the administration wants local control. The 21st century delivers on that. It is a pass-through from the federal government to the states, and they determine how that program is going to be activated in their state."

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