---
title: SR 121. Afterschool Day; recognize February 12, 2025
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr121
cite_as: SR 121, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr121
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr121.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr121/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69861
date: 2025-02-05
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr122.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr121.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 121
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-05
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Brian Strickland
  - Bo Hatchett
  - Kay Kirkpatrick
  - Bill Cowsert
  - Harold Jones
  - Kenya Wicks
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR121/2025
upstream_id: 1955704
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - afterschool programs
  - education funding
  - youth development
  - Georgia Senate resolutions
---

# SR 121. Afterschool Day; recognize February 12, 2025

## Text

Senate Resolution 121
By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Hatchett of the 50th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Cowsert
of the 46th, Jones II of the 22nd and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 12, 2025, as Afterschool Day at the state capitol; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, afterschool programs provide innovative hands-on opportunities for youth to
re-engage in their learning and connect with caring adults and peers in a safe and supportive
environment; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs improve academic performance and outcomes by
increasing school day attendance, reducing grade retention, and improving classroom
behavior; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs improve youth mental health by promoting healthy habits,
developing positive decision-making skills, and building resiliency and coping skills; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs support working families and build stronger communities
by ensuring children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends and involving
parents, community leaders, businessmen, and adult volunteers in the lives of young people;
and
WHEREAS, the America After 3PM survey indicates that approximately 18 percent of
Georgia's school-aged youth are in after-school programs, but over 600,000 more of
Georgia's youth would participate in an afterschool program if one was available in their
community; and
WHEREAS, Georgia is committed to preparing our youth for the jobs of tomorrow, and
after-school programs provide opportunities for college readiness; career exploration,
especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and expanded
learning opportunities that help youth gain hands-on experience and foster skills including
communication, teamwork, and consensus building; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Education partnered with the Georgia Statewide
Afterschool Network to establish the Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time
(BOOST) grants program to distribute approximately $85 million to afterschool and summer
learning programs utilizing evidence-based practices and whole child supports; and
WHEREAS, the BOOST grants program supported organizations operating in 115 Georgia
counties that served 86,386 young people during the 2023-24 academic year and 82,827
young people during the summer of 2024; and
WHEREAS, there are many public and private entities providing quality programming, such
as 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Division of Family and Children Services Out
of School Services program, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Disabilities Prevention Clubhouses, 4-H, YMCAs, and Boys and Girls Clubs; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network, a public-private collaborative, has
convened these organizations and after school providers from across the state for the sixth
annual Afterschool Day at the state capitol to encourage lawmakers to recognize the critical
role afterschool programs play in preparing Georgia's youth for success in college, career,
and life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize February 12, 2025, as Afterschool Day at the state capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make a copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Statewide
Afterschool Network.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Senate resolution recognizes February 12, 2025 as Afterschool Day at the Georgia state capitol, honoring afterschool programs and the organizations that run them.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally recognizes February 12, 2025 as Afterschool Day at the state capitol, marking the sixth annual event organized by the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network, a public-private collaborative that brings afterschool providers together at the capitol.
The resolution lists reasons for the recognition, including research on how afterschool programs improve academic performance, mental health, and workforce readiness, and it cites the state's BOOST grants program, which the Georgia Department of Education runs with the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network to fund afterschool and summer learning programs. The Senate directs its Secretary to give a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.

### What it does

- Formally designates February 12, 2025 as Afterschool Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.
- Does not create funding, programs, or legal requirements; it is a ceremonial recognition rather than a change to Georgia law.

### Who it affects

Afterschool program providers such as 21st Century Community Learning Centers, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and 4-H; the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network; and families and students who use afterschool programs across Georgia.

### Why it matters

While the resolution itself changes no law or funding, it publicly highlights afterschool programs' role in academic performance, youth mental health, and workforce preparation, and draws attention to existing state efforts like the BOOST grants program that support these programs.

### Key provisions

- Recognizes February 12, 2025 as Afterschool Day at the state capitol, the sixth annual such event organized by the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.
- Cites the BOOST grants program, a partnership between the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network distributing about $85 million to afterschool and summer learning programs.
- Notes BOOST-supported organizations served 86,386 youth during the 2023-24 school year and 82,827 youth during summer 2024 across 115 Georgia counties.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available to the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-05)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-05)
- Sponsors: Brian Strickland, Bo Hatchett, Kay Kirkpatrick, Bill Cowsert, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69861

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr121.md?full=1