Idaho to Get After School Funding

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — School kids looking for something to do after class could benefit from another $1.5 million in federal funding headed Idaho's way. The State Department of Education says it plans to divvy up the money for next year, but now is the time for districts to apply for a cut of the cash. It's coming through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which aims to boost art, music, sports and drug and violence prevention during the non-school hours — when some kids might otherwise get into mischief. Public schools chief Tom Luna praised the federal program, saying it has "a long history of supporting the academic success of students outside of the school day." Luna says his agency now funds 93 afterschool centers throughout Idaho, serving 6,128 youth daily.