Afterschool Programs in Peril
In communities from coast to coast, afterschool programs are making a huge difference, keeping children safe, inspiring them to learn, and helping their working parents. Understanding that schools alone won't address all of our children's needs, afterschool programs complement and supplement the school day, often coordinating closely with teachers and principals to help students succeed. Support for quality afterschool programs is needed more than ever, yet the Department of Education is embracing policies that could devastate afterschool funding and the partnerships that make them so strong. Read more…
Deadline to win a Kindle Fire has been extended to Tuesday, January 31, 2012!
Tell Your Afterschool Success Story by Completing a Short Survey
The Afterschool Alliance is conducting a survey to gather examples of success to strengthen support for investments in quality programs. Please share examples of programs that boost student success in school (e.g., behavior, attendance, grades, academic skills, grade advancement) or provide engaging learning opportunities in areas such as STEM, digital learning, arts, health/nutrition, global learning and physical activity, to name a few.
High-quality submissions now have more chances to win. The Afterschool Alliance is giving away an additional Kindle Fire, for a total of three drawings. Fifty iTunes gift card ($10 each) winners will be drawn at random. Click here to complete the survey.
PSAYDN is Accepting Nominations for 2012 Afterschool Champions
Nominations due: February 5, 2012
PSAYDN is seeking nominations for Afterschool Champions. The nominees should demonstrate outstanding work in developing, supporting and promoting meaningful high-quality afterschool/out-of-school time programs to benefit children, youth and families across Pennsylvania. The Afterschool Champion Award winners will be recognized during the PSAYDN Annual Meeting on March 7, 2012.
Funding Opportunity provided by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
Two remaining deadlines: February 9 and June 8, 2012
CCSSO is excited to announce the launch of Wave 3 of the Next NGLC and up to $12 million in new grants.As you might recall, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched NGLC in partnership with EDUCAUSE, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), the League for Innovation in the Community College, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and CCSSO last October.
Click here to read about the challenges and winners of Wave 1 and 2.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Pittenger CCSSO Network Director at lindap@ccsso.org.
Free Books for Read Across America Day
Orders due: February 11, 2012
The Literacy Empowerment Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, invites your school or other literacy project to apply for free books for Read Across America Day. During the past year, LEF has distributed over 3,000,000 books to schools all across the country for Read Across America Day and other literacy projects.
Resources are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Click here to order.
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan to Award Grants to “CHIP Champion” Partners
Submission deadline: March 15, 2012
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan will provide mini-grants of a maximum of $1,000, to partner organizations that agree to conduct outreach efforts for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These organizations will collectively be known as UnitedHealthcare Community Plan CHIP Champion Partners.
Targeted partners can include: local libraries, faith-based organizations, health clinics, social service agencies, school associations, day care facilities, unions, associations or other for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Interested organizations can request an Outreach Proposal form with James Roberts at jroberts@uhc.com.Funding decisions will be announced by April 15, 2012.
Your Students Have the Power to Shape Their Future
Are you up for the challenge?
Application deadline: March 15, 2012
Register your team to join the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, the premier national sustainability competition for grades K-12. Using a project-based inquiry approach, students identify solutions to real-world problems that impact the planet. Learn more and to register, click here.
Win Big Teams compete for more than $300,000 in prizes such as scholarships, adventure trips and a chance to present at the United Nations.
Get Started. Register online to create your team(s) and immediately access free resources like lesson plans and interactive labs that will help inspire your students. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules available at www.wecanchange.com.
Engagement of OST in Career and Workforce
Archived PSAYDN Virtual Quarterly Meeting
If you were unable to join last week’s virtual meeting, you can view the recording at your own convenience. Hear what Bill Bartle, Dr. Kate Hynes, Dr. Terri Henderson and Jill Helme contributed to this timely topic. Click here for handouts, presentation slides and the recording.
Put Your Youth Programs on the Map
Mapping Out of School Time (MOST) Science Questionnaire
MOST-Science is a nation-wide study funded by the National Science Foundation and the Noyce Foundation. They are collecting data on science and engineering-focused out-of-school-time programs across the country - and they want to make sure they hear about yours. Highlight your organization and its youth programs to MOST’s research team; help to identify common needs and challenges for youth OST science programs; contribute to a study that will inform funders, policy-makers, researchers and other program providers about the great work in this community and the needs that remain to be addressed; support development of future research studies to examine the development, education and career outcomes for youth who participate in OST science programs.
One out of every 20 people who completes the questionnaire will win a $50 gift certificate to your choice of either Staples (get needed supplies for your own program) or DonorsChoose.org (donate supplies to a classroom in need)
Click here to complete the questionnaire.
OST Supportive Principals
The Afterschool Alliance has been asked by the National Association of Elementary School Principals Association to recommend principals who have been highly supportive of Afterschool. Please send further information to Erik Peterson at epeterson@afterschoolalliance.org and copy Kacy Conley, kconley@csc.csiu.org
Microsoft Corporation Offers In-Kind Donations
2011 Citizenship Tools grants
Funding Focus: Education and technology for nonprofitsDeadline: rolling
Last year, the company donated more than $61 million in cash and $273 million in software to nonprofit organizations throughout the world
Microsoft provides very limited cash grants as part of its Community Technology Skills program, which focuses on workforce development and employability. Cash grants are limited and support is provided to eligible nonprofits with a proven track record of providing skills training for workforce development and entrepreneurship in their communities.
For more information, click here.
A New Vision for Supporting Students in Summer Programs
This discussion guide is a primer for state education board members on summer learning loss and ways to reduce it. Click here to view the guide.
The Beacon Community Centers Middle School Initiative: Final Report
This report looks at a tween afterschool project in New York City and finds that giving youngsters a say in the activities offered is one way to help boost the effort's chances of success. Click here to read the report.
Engaging Youth in Career Programming
During Out-of-School Time:
Lessons for Program Design from a Study of Experienced Out-of-School Time Programs
This detailed study of 26 out-of-school time programs in Pennsylvania includes a review of challenges, creative solutions and best practices for career exploration and interest assessment, job search skills,
supervised work experience, and skills development.
Click here to download the program design resource.
Expanded Learning Time
Reimagining the School Day: More Time for Learning reports on a Wallace gathering where leaders in education, afterschool and other areas grappled with the challenges and merits of carving out more high-quality learning time for disadvantaged youngsters.
About Promoting Youth Development in Schools
UCLA Center
Despite the widespread interest, youth development principles remain a marginal concern in school improvement policy and practice. This brief resource is meant to provide another informative for decision makers and planners about the fundamental importance of promoting youth development through enhancing student assets and improving settings and pairing it with an agenda to address factors interfering with such development. Click here to access the recourse.
Pennsylvania Celebrates Lights on Afterschool 2011
On October 21, more than one million people gathered at 7,500 sites across the country and U.S. military bases worldwide for the 11th annual Lights On Afterschool rally for afterschool programs that help working families, keep kids safe and inspire them to learn. In Pennsylvania, more than 300 programs hosted special events.
Pennsylvania Landmarks Were Lit for 12th Annual Lights On Afterschool Events
Thanks to support from JCPenney and the Afterschool Alliance, a Pennsylvania fountain, furnace and a statue of iconic children’s television personality, Fred Rogers, were among the landmarks lit up on October 20th for Lights On Afterschool. The local lightings add to the list of landmarks that have been lit for Lights On Afterschool in recent years, including the Empire State Building and Mount Rushmore. JCPenney provided grants to 17 local organizations to light up landmarks and Pennsylvania lead the nation with three winners! Congratulations to Bethlehem – Bethlehem Steel Corporation Blast Furnaces; Philadelphia – LOVE Fountain, Boathouse Row and PECO Building’s 27th-floor Crown Lights; and Pittsburgh – Fred Rogers Memorial Statue.
Click here more highlights from across the Commonwealth.
Download Pennsylvania's Lights On Afterschool proclamation, resolutions and petition:
Proclamation
Senate Resolution
House Resolution
Petition
Pennsylvania Afterschool Advocacy Day 2011
On October 18, advocates including parents, program providers, youth, faith-based leaders and business leaders from across the state came together in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to highlight the importance of afterschool programs in our state. The day included training, an Advocacy Celebration in the Capitol Rotunda and visits with Legislators. Read more…
How Pennsylvania is Helping to Keep the Lights on Afterschool
According to the Afterschool Alliance’s Progress Report and Consumer Guide, Pennsylvania has been holding steady on many measures related to afterschool progress. The percentage of kids accessing afterschool is unchanged since 2004, as is the percentage of kids in self-care. Unfortunately, those percentages remain below the national average, and the number of kids who would participate in a program if one were available has grown to exceed the national average. Pennsylvania's afterschool programs are serving a high-need population; more than half of participants qualify for the National School Lunch Program. From these data, it is clear that more resources are needed to ensure that Pennsylvania's youth have access to the state's quality afterschool offerings. Click here for more details and the full report.
New York City Leadership Academy Shows Success
A study of the New York City Leadership Academy program to train aspiring principals finds that schools led by program graduates had a steeper improvement trajectory in English and math than similar schools led by other principals.
The Wallace Foundation Summer Learning Webinar
The Wallace Foundation has posted their recent webinar on summer learning, featuring the co-author of a major RAND study on summer learning, and state and local summer learning leaders.
STEM Learning in Afterschool: An Analysis of Impact and Outcomes
This new report from the Afterschool Alliance analyzed evaluation studies gathered from afterschool programs offering STEM all over the country and identified some common trends and outcomes in these programs. Findings include, in addition to improving access to these fields for a diverse group of learners, high-quality afterschool STEM programs are yielding STEM-specific benefits in three broad categories: improved attitudes toward STEM fields and careers; increased STEM knowledge and skills; and increased likelihood of graduation and pursuing a STEM career.Additional studies and data will help to solidify these promising trends, but the existing data is already showing that afterschool is playing a key role in supporting STEM learning. The report was released recently at an extremely successful and well-attended Congressional briefing on STEM learning in afterschool, sponsored by the Senate and House Afterschool Caucus.
Click here for the online report.
Support the Afterschool for America’s Children Act - Contact Your Legislators
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), are introducing the Afterschool for America’s Children Act to support innovative advances occurring in before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs; to improve accountability connected to college- and career-readiness goals and parental engagement; to encourage professional development for afterschool staff, and maintain formula grants to states for 21st CCLC. This is an opportunity to make contact with Pennsylvania’s Senators -- Bob Casey (D) and Pat Toomey (R) and remind them about the needs of children attending afterschool programs.
You can send a simple a message using the email form on their websites and explain who you are, how you are involved in afterschool, why you think afterschool is important, and request that they support Sens. Boxer and Murkowski’s Afterschool for America’s Children Act.
For more information on the legislation, click here. You may also phone their D.C. offices and ask to speak to staff that handle afterschool issues.
Video Recording of PSAYDN Quarterly Meeting and Presentation Now Online
On June 23, PSAYDN hosted a virtual meeting to share its current work and accomplishments in the core areas of policy, sustainability and quality; get member input; and increase member knowledge of state and national efforts for Out-of-School Time to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Special guest presenters included Dr. Anita Krishnamurthi, Director of STEM Policy for the Afterschool Alliance; Robin Shoop, Director of the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy; Julia Skolnik, Project Associate-Curriculum Specialist at the Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Free Library of Philadelphia; and Ed Bender, Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania 4-H Science Program Team.
Download the session slides (PDF)
Click here to view the recording of the meeting
In order to view the recorded meeting, you must have the
Elluminate Live! Java application downloaded to your personal
computer. There is no cost to download the software. To configure your
computer, visit the Elluminate support page.
Making the Most of Congressional Recess
House and Senate members will be on Winter recess shortly and in their district offices. Site visits can be critical - particularly this year - as lawmakers debate the future of education reform. This is the perfect opportunity for you to schedule a visit.
For advocates with summer programs, or with afterschool programs that re-open in August, now is the perfect time to begin planning in-person congressional visits to programs. It is important to send invitations early, before a lawmaker's schedule fills up. Follow-up the email or paper mail invitation with a phone call to their office. If your program receives 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funding, be sure to look at the Afterschool Alliance's 21st CCLC funding chart and see how your state would be affected by cuts to the initiative. This is an important issue to raise with your lawmaker during a site visit, as his/her support is crucial.
For more information, click here.
To find out how to contact your representative, click here.
To find out how to contact your senator, click here.
A Practitioner’s Guide to Promising Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Older Youth
Out-of-school time (OST) programs across Pennsylvania are looking for ways to improve their recruitment and retention efforts and attract older youth to their programs. This report combines results from a 2010 survey of youth programs in Pennsylvania with findings from a literature review to provide practitioners with information on best practices for recruiting and retaining older youth. Click here to read the full report.
Statement of Quality
PSAYDN’s Statement of Quality is a collective of principles and ideals which we believe should guide the actions of afterschool programming, regardless of program purpose or ages served. It does not, however, indicate levels of program quality. The purpose of this statement is to provide Pennsylvania’s afterschool programs and all other individuals, organizations, and entities that have a vested interest in the quality of these programs, including public and private funders, parents, and youth, with a straightforward framework to define quality. Click here to read the Statement.Sounding a Voice for Pennsylvania Afterschool and Youth Development Programs: Tools and Resources to Continue Your Advocacy Efforts
The Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network presents an afterschool toolkit, Sounding a Voice for Pennsylvania Afterschool and Youth Development Program: Tools and Resources to Continue Your Advocacy Effort, that will guide afterschool supporters on how to advocate for his or her programs. This afterschool toolkit includes highlights on the following:
- Three fact sheets focused on Pennsylvania advocacy information, Pennsylvania after 3 PM and afterschool/youth development strategies
- Federal and state advocacy budget timelines
- Media outreach and tips to help effectively advocate for your program
Afterschool Toolkit (PDF format)
Sample letters (Word format)
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Follow the links for past PSAYDN News:
- Congress passes the Tom Osborne Federal Youth Coordination Act, October 17, 2006
- Lights on Afterschool! October 12, 2006
- PSAYDN Newsletter Debut, May, 30, 2006
- Afterschool-for-All Challenge, May 24, 2006
- The Governor's Summit, March 1, 2006
- Extra Learning Opportunities in Pennsylvania, March 1-2, 2006
- Spring 2005 Summit in Philadelphia, May 19, 2005
- Fall 2005 Summit in State College, November 15, 2005
Click here for the latest issue.
A monthly bulletin designed to keep you informed about the network and the afterschool/ youth development field.
Click here to visit the TakeTen! Archive.
