PSAYDN is excited to launch our 2025–2026 Education and Awareness Campaign to elevate the importance of afterschool and summer learning opportunities across the Commonwealth. Through this campaign, we will host monthly virtual sessions focused on building knowledge, capacity and collective voice in support of out-of-school time (OST) programs statewide.
2025–2026 Education and Awareness Campaign Launch
Presenter: Chris Neitzey, Director of State Policy, Afterschool Alliance
(Recorded Aug. 21, 2025) We are honored to welcome Chris Neitzey, senior director of policy at the Afterschool Alliance, as our featured presenter for this kickoff session. Chris shared timely updates on recent federal and national advocacy efforts that have advanced policies and funding priorities benefiting out-of-school time programs across the country.
Session 2: Lights on Afterschool: Amplifying Our Movement
Presenter: Laura Saccente, Assistant Director, Center for Schools and Communities
(Recorded Sept. 18, 2025) Join PSAYDN for a dynamic webinar designed to strengthen the visibility and impact of OST programs across Pennsylvania. As part of the national Lights On Afterschool celebration, this session will focus on practical strategies for preparing and leveraging OST awareness campaigns to amplify our collective voice and elevate statewide recognition.
Session 3: Building Local Champions
Oct. 16, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ashley Wallace, associate director, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), will share ways you can build connections with state legislators and legislative staff. She will also give an overview of some hot education topics legislatures may be tackling in 2026 legislative sessions and what that might mean for the afterschool field.
Meet Our Presenter
Ashley Wallace
Associate Director
National Conference of State Legislatures
As an associate director in the Education Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Ashley Wallace oversees their P-12 education policy team and projects. Wallace utilizes her expertise to support research and policy insight on chronic absenteeism, education system redesign, mastery-based education, student homelessness, student mental health, afterschool, community schools and other issues. Prior to joining NCSL in 2008, Wallace was a legislative director for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later worked in federal relations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Save the Children. She has degrees in international studies and diplomacy and foreign affairs from Miami University.
Session 10: Action Day at Harrisburg State Capitol
May 6, 2026, time TBA
Registrants will be notified of the livestream link to watch the rally at the State Capitol if they are unable to attend in person.