Policy
Advocating for Afterschool
Colorado Afterschool Partnership (CAP) works to raise awareness of the need for and benefits of afterschool so that we can secure sustainable funding for Out of School (OST) programs at the local, state, and federal levels. CAP does this work by:
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Sharing data and OST stories in the media and on our socials
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Building relationships
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Partnering to work on bills for state funding (HB - 1331)
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Leading the statewide OST Coalition
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Convening the Colorado Fund IRL Coalition
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Partnering to build a map of OST programs statewide - Coming soon!
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Exploring strategies for OST families to benefit from the HR-1 Tax Credits beginning January 2027
CAP in Action!
In spring, 2026, Colorado's Joint Budget Committee was faced with cutting the two state-funded OST grants at the Colorado Department of Education. The Nonprofit OST Grant (HB24-1331) for $3.5 million was suggested to be cut in half, and the Colorado Academic Accelerator Grant (HB23-1231) for $7.4 million was suggested to be cut in full. CAP rallied the OST Coalition, engaged with media, contacted the Joint Budget Committee directly with the support of community partners, and were able to save both grants! The Nonprofit OST grant was saved at 50%, and the Colorado Academic Accelerator grant was only cut by 60%.
Later in the session, Governor Polis returned full funding to the Nonprofit OST Grant due to the strong advocacy on other funding measures that didn't pass.
80%
Learn life skills
73%
Build positive relationships with caring adults and mentors
79%
Build confidence
82%
Be physically active
58%
Access nutritious foods
72%
Stay safe and out of trouble
Promoting Healthy Futures
Parents in Colorado agree that afterschool programs are helping young people to:
82%
Helps working parents keep their jobs
81%
Provides working parents peace of mind
56%
Helps parents build connections to their child’s school day education
Supporting Working Families
Parents in Colorado agree that afterschool:
Increasing kids’ earning potential as adults
Improving kids’ performance at school
Reducing crime and juvenile delinquency
A Smart Investment
Research spanning several states shows that every $1 invested in afterschool programs saves at least $3 by:
Policy & Advocacy Resources
Briefs and Research from the Afterschool Alliance
The Afterschool Alliance has the most comprehensive, national database of afterschool research and briefs available, covering a variety of topics.
Explore the Research
More than a decade of research confirms that quality afterschool programs are providing rich learning experiences for students, helping to narrow existing opportunity and achievement gaps, and positioning students toward a bright future as they move through school, career, and life.