Education act sends after-school money to state education agencies.

• Position: Statestats

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is the centerpiece of the Bush administration's education policy. It has reauthorized the federal government's 21st Century Community Learning Centers program that provides grants to local education agencies and community-based organizations for affordable, high-quality programs for children after school.

There are significant changes in the reauthorization. Now state education agencies will administer the program and award grants, instead of the U.S. Department of Education. And there is more money. By 2007 the funds called for in the act jump to more than $2 billion from $846 million in 2001. The scope of the program has also changed from a focus on youth development (nutrition, health, recreation and cultural activities), to remedial education, math and science classes, tutoring and mentoring.

State education agencies now will receive a significant amount of money for distribution, without state legislative appropriation. The agencies will also award and monitor competitive grants. The amount is based on the Title 1 Part A formula, so some states will receive more money than recipients in their states did last year. Some will receive less.

Although the new law does not identify a role for state legislators in this program, it will be important for them to be aware of the responsibilities and significant funding coming to state education agencies. There may be an appropriate legislative role in reviewing the agencies' administrative rules and regulations. And lawmakers might want to consider how state policy might allow oversight of the program within scope of the education act.

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