Feeds:
Posts
Comments

How is the Economy Affecting Afterschool Programs?

April 23, 2009 by Lisa Rice

The Afterschool Alliance is conducting a survey to determine how the demand for afterschool may be changing as unemployment rises, costs increase, and state and local governments face shortfalls.  We need your help: please take a few moments to complete our web-based survey. As we work with policy makers, funders and the media, the Afterschool Alliance is engaged in conveying the many ways the economic downturn is affecting afterschool programs.  We want to know: What are the trends in enrollment, funding, and capacity right now?  Have funding sources changed in the last several years and if so, how is that affecting students and families? 

 

With your help, we can build a strong information base that will help inform conversations with decision makers.  When you are filling out the survey keep in mind:

·           We encourage site level coordinators to answer questions specific to their one site when possible. 

·           If data, including funding information, are only available at the program or consortium level, please respond on behalf of the entire program/consortium and be sure to indicate the number of sites for which you are responding.

·           Please complete this survey by the close of business Wednesday, April 29.

Five lucky respondents who completely fill out the survey will be chosen at random for a $50 Discount School Supplies gift certificate.  You do not need to sign up for any services to participate and your individual information will not be shared.   

Thank you in advance for your participation.

The Afterschool Alliance

Posted in Advocacy, Research | Leave a Comment »

NGA and CCSSO Offer New Approaches to Strengthen Afterschool Opportunities for Students

April 21, 2009 by Lisa Rice

A new report by the National Governors Association (NGA) Center and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) highlights the positive impact high-quality Extended Learning Opportunities ELOs have on student success and offers state leaders a blueprint to ensure ELO effectiveness.

For more, see the press release or download the report. For the moment, it’s also available as the first story on the NGA homepage.

via National Governors Association.

Posted in Research, Resources | Leave a Comment »

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW AYPF PUBLICATION

April 21, 2009 by Lisa Rice

New Publication:  Learning Around the Clock: The Benefits of Expanded Learning Opportunities for Older Youth <http://www.aypf.org/documents/LearningAroundtheClockBenefitsofExpandedLearningOpportunitiesforOlderYouth.htm>
We are pleased to announce the release of a  new AYPF publication, Learning Around the Clock:  Benefits of Expanded Learning Opportunities for Older Youth, which profiles 22 programs that provide quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) for older youth. This publication is currently available on our website at www.aypf.org/publications <http://www.aypf.org/publications> .
 
Learning Around the Clock: Benefits of Expanded Learning Opportunities for Older Youth provides evidence that ELOs improve academic performance, college and career preparation, social and emotional development, and health and wellness for youth.  Expanded learning opportunities encompass a range of programs and activities available to young people that occur beyond regular school hours and include traditional afterschool activities with an academic focus, but also activities such as internships with employers, independent study in alternative settings, classes on college campuses for high school students, and wraparound support services.
This report summarizes 22 evaluations of high-quality ELOs to give policymakers and practitioners a quick understanding of the research findings on effective programs, along with a description of why these programs work.  The report describes key program elements that lead to successful outcomes, such as experiential learning, high-quality staff with ongoing professional development, student-centered programming, and supportive adult and peer-to-peer relations.  The report also provides recommendations for policymakers to support ELOs by developing shared accountability systems; supporting partnerships and collaboration across systems; focusing on quality by building capacity; ensuring equity and access for youth; improving data collection, evaluation, and research; and ensuring the sustainability of ELOs.  The complete report is available online at www.aypf.org/publications <http://www.aypf.org/publications> .  To order a hard copy of Learning Around the Clock:  Benefits of Expanded Learning Opportunities for Older Youth, please contact AYPF at 202-775-9731 or email aypf@aypf.org.

Funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation

Posted in Research | Leave a Comment »

Afterschool Alliance: Afterschool Snack*

April 17, 2009 by Lisa Rice

Sec. Duncan Takes Afterschool Challenge; Unprecendented Times for Afterschool

via Afterschool Alliance: Afterschool Snack*.

Posted in Advocacy | Leave a Comment »

‘BE THE CHANGE’ Advocacy Training for Board Members

April 17, 2009 by Lisa Rice

This training focuses almost entirely on the FY10 budget crisis and how community members, board members and other leaders can have a very powerful voice. 
Sponsored and developed by the Basic Needs Coalition, PAFCO and provided by key leaders from Arizona Coalition against Domestic Violence.
RSVP to Kendra Leiby: sa1@azcadv.org.

Tucson April 23rd, 2pm
Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse
2545 East Adams Street
Tucson, AZ 85716

Phoenix April 22nd, 9am
Executive Tower, in the Ice Cream Parlor
1700 W. Washington Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition (PAFCO) is a diverse, non-partisan alliance of social services, health, community service agencies, advocacy groups, citizen advocacy, and faith-based associations. PAFCO‘s mission is to protect and promote health and human services for the children, families and vulnerable adults.  PAFCO provides education and training and advocacy organizing for the state budget, promotion of the unfinished agenda of unmet needs, health care reform citizen advocacy training, and federal health and human services budget advocacy.  www.pafcoalition.org

Posted in Advocacy | Leave a Comment »

Supporting the Local Afterschool Programs Kids & Families Rely On

April 16, 2009 by Lisa Rice

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides millions of dollars in potential supports for afterschool and summer programs. Don’t let this opportunity slip by. Programs provide critical supports to struggling kids and families, create good jobs and make a solid investment in our future workforce. Putting these funds to work now not only helps us today, but also better positions afterschool efforts for future funding.

Here is a quick tip sheet on resources to tap, and who to talk to about:
• Direct funding for programs
• Summer and school year youth employment
• AmeriCorps staffing help

1. Talk to your principal, superintendent, Title I Coordinator or other local education agency and school officials about applying Title I recovery dollars to afterschool and summer programs. An additional $13 billion is being distributed to local education agencies for programs under Title I. Support for extended learning, including afterschool, summer and year-long programs, is encouraged in the guidance on this funding. This is a great point to share. Give examples of how afterschool and summer programs can help close the achievement gap.
The Administration has made clear that recovery dollars should help fuel reform, and that afterschool and summer programming is part of a reform vision. The U.S. Department of Education has said that states using Title 1 funds toward reform are better positioned to be awarded additional funds through the “Race to the Top” and “Innovation” grant programs.

2. Contact your state’s Child Care Development agency about contracting to provide slots for school-age children.

3. Contact your local workforce investment board (WIB) or youth council about applying for funding to employ youth this summer. The Act provides $1.2 billion for youth services, and the Department of Labor strongly recommends using these funds to create jobs for low-income youth. In addition, afterschool program activities that include focus on conservation, parks and recreation may be eligible to participate in a $750M competitive green jobs grant.
Funds might be used for internships, hiring eligible youth as staff; or provide a range of services from tutoring to job training and leadership development.
NOTE: If the application window has closed, ask the WIB for a list of participating summer programs. Contact those sites about creating a partnership. Also ask the WIB about the timeline for applying for funds for fall 2009 programs.

4. Contact existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area about placing Corps members in afterschool programs. or to explore whether any current afterschool program staff could qualify as Corps members, and ease pressures to lay off staff due to tight budgets. Go to the Corporation for National Service website on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and click on “National Service In Your State” to see existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area.

5. Look into securing a VISTA Volunteer. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as resources to help community organizations build up capacity. An additional 3,000 positions are available for new and existing sponsors. VISTA members are committed to a one year term of service. Apply directly to be a VISTA sponsor, or partner with local sponsors in your community to place a VISTA volunteer in your programs. Applications for VISTA grants are accepted throughout the year.

6. Reach out to your Mayor. Mayors have become very involved in ensuring that Recovery funds are being used to help their communities. Mayors also understand that afterschool programs can not only expand learning opportunities, but that they can help kids stay safe and healthy, and support struggling families. Reach out to your Mayor’s education policy staff and your city’s neighborhood and youth development staffs. Point out how afterschool can help a city meet today’s challenges while helping it build a strong foundation for tomorrow.

7. For more information, go to http://www.afterschoolalliance.org and http://www.afterschoolwiki.org for the latest news, official guidance, ideas and Q&A from the field about using recovery dollars to support afterschool programs

Additional Resources:
Summer Programming & Recovery funds: www.summerlearning.org
Dept of Education website on Recovery funds: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
Dept of Labor Recovery site: www.dol.gov/Recovery
Corp for Nat’l Service Recovery site: www.nationalservice.org/about/recovery/index.asp
Data on public support, benefits of afterschool: See Research, www.afterschoolalliance.org

Posted in Funding Opportunities |

« Newer Posts