Report Faults Afterschool Funding, Suggests Pot Tax be Used

BOSTON (AP) — A legislative panel says some of the tax revenues from recreational marijuana sales should be used for afterschool and summer learning programs.

The report released Thursday by the Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Coordinating Council says chronic underfunding has left more than 200,000 children in Massachusetts unsupervised after the school day and without access to programs that improve academic performance and help prepare students for college.

Democratic State Rep. Jennifer Benson, of Lunenburg, was the House co-chair of the panel. She says for every child enrolled in an afterschool program, there are two others waiting to get in.

Marijuana sales, expected to begin soon in Massachusetts, will be subject to a combined 20 percent state and local tax. The report also recommends tax incentives to businesses that invest in afterschool programs.