Students in five counties in Northeast Pennsylvania got a collective kick in the stomach from the state Capitol on Thursday, and they didn’t have to travel an inch.

That’s because Harrisburg came to Hazleton, where incredulous state lawmakers gathered to announce long-time federally funded programs with track records of helping students succeed could go dark when the school year ends in June.

State Sen. David Argall, R-29, led the contingent of legislators, which included state representatives and staffers from the offices of U.S. Reps Dan Meuser, R-9, Susan Wild, D-7 and state Sens. Lisa Baker, R-20, and Rosemary Brown, D-40, who were the bearers of the not-so-welcome news.

Simply put, the lawmakers’ message was that the Pennsylvania Department of Education denied funding for some programs that introduce students in grades K-8 to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) concepts.

It wasn’t the news they wanted to deliver, especially to a constituency that could use the help.

The local programs, SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education) and Schuylkill ACHIEVE, were not awarded funding for the 2024-2029 period.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, the grants help create academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children - particularly those who attend high poverty and low performing schools.

The ACHIEVE program operated by Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 has received the funding for 25 years, the Carbon-Schuylkill SHINE for 20 years and Luzerne County SHINE for nine years.

Argall, who chairs the state Senate Education Committee, said about 25 locations will be forced to close, impacting thousands of school kids in Carbon, Schuylkill, Luzerne, Wayne and Pike counties.

He said that in addition to affecting students struggling with academics, the shutdown will trickle down to the communities that the centers served.

That’s especially true with childcare, where working parents will have their own struggle to find care for their kids after school as well as in the summers to come.

For years now, the locations have run their programs Monday through Thursday. Students on a typical day would get about 25 minutes of help with their homework, a hot meal and 90 minutes to two hours of work on a STEAM-based project.

Guidance counselors or teachers referred students to both programs, which have proven records of helping students with attendance and academic performance.

The latest round of funding allocates just about 11.5% of the $27 million total to rural entities. The bulk of the money goes to programs in Philadelphia. A smattering of the cash was distributed to smaller areas that include sites in McKean, Mercer and Washington counties.

Nationally, nearly 25 million children are not in an after-school program, but would be if such an option were available to them.

Local programs are chosen for funding based on their ability to meet the needs of students and families, as well as their connection to education priorities in the state.

But like everything else these days, money is tight.

Only one in three funding requests are awarded because of the intense competition and need in addition to the shrinking pool of cash available. And it’s getting smaller.

Money from COVID relief funds is drying up, and other federal money has largely stalled. Government figures show that over the last decade, inflation has increased 29% but the funding level for the after-school programs is about $80 million lower than it was in 2013.

That’ll make the road ahead a rough one for Argall and his fellow legislators who have promised to pursue alternate funding sources.

Argall said he planned to meet with state Education Secretary Khalid Mumin on behalf of local legislators “so that our children do not lose these vital services.”

He vowed public hearings will be held if he doesn’t get assurances from Mumin and the office of Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The efforts are commendable, but the reality is that allocation decisions have already been made for the next five years.

That’s not to say alternate funding can’t be found.

It may not happen anytime soon, but it might give lawmakers the time to strengthen their case for the next round of funding.

And help students in their areas to SHINE and ACHIEVE.