Press Coverage Law aims to improve afterschool programs By Sarah Rohrs Vallejo Times Herald September 23, 2006 Each day after school, about 100 youngsters clamor into the Continentals of Omega Boys and Girls Club in North Vallejo to do homework, study with academic tutors and play basketball or volleyball. After school programs are sorely needed in Vallejo, club president Pelton Stewart said, and opportunities are being explored to expand programs to benefit all youth. The Boys and Girls Club may get a helping hand through a new state law making $428 million more available for before and after school programs throughout the state. The law's aim is to improve and expand existing after school programs, and also make it easier to secure state funds to launch new programs, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office. The money will benefit both school districts and community-based organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, said Tom Martinez, spokeswoman for bill author state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch. Even with the dramatic influx of funds, the demand for after school programs will not be met, Children Now executive director Ted Lempert said. Vallejo school district spokeswoman Tish Busselle said some after school programs are held at elementary and secondary schools, though she could not give an exact number or if there's a need to expand. She added it's likely the district would look into securing state funding from the new legislation. The law allows public and charter schools to apply for grants up to $150,000 to fund after school programs where students can engage in a number of academic endeavors, such as computer training, English Language tutoring and homework assistance, state officials said. The state Department of Education is sending applications to all California school districts with after school programs, Martinez said.