Afterschool Snack

Weekly Media Roundup: October 9, 2024

What Do Teens Do After School? Utica Hoping They'll Head to Parkway Recreation Center, Utica Observer Dispatch (New York) This fall, Parkway Recreation Center in Utica, New York will open a free afterschool program for teenagers, providing them a safe space to engage in leadership...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 10/09/24

Weekly Media Roundup: October 2, 2024

Minneapolis, St. Paul Educators Rally as Pandemic-Era Funding for Arts, After-School Programs Dries Up, WCCO-TV (Minnesota) As federal COVID relief funding winds down, parents, educators and lawmakers rallied at Adams Immersion Elementary School in St. Paul to call on lawmakers to prevent...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 10/02/24

Bring out student creativity during Lights On Afterschool

This Lights On Afterschool, consider hosting an art day! Lights On Afterschool is the perfect time to let students express their thoughts on afterschool through art. Events can be as elaborate as a mural painting, or as simple as students decorating lightbulbs with all the reasons they love their...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/26/24

Weekly Media Roundup: September 25, 2024

Beaufort County Innovative Afterschool Program Lands $2.3M Grant from Coastal Community Foundation, Post and Courier (South Carolina) Thanks to a $2.3 million Catalyst Grant, the largest ever awarded by the Coastal Community Foundation, the UNITED (Uniting Neighbors for Instructional...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 09/25/24

Weekly Media Roundup: September 18, 2024

In Visit to Detroit, Usher Praises Boys & Girls Club After-School Programs, Detroit Free Press (Michigan) Last week, R&B artist Usher held “Usher’s Club Takeover” at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan in Detroit. At the two-day event, more than 1,500...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 09/18/24

Weekly Media Roundup: September 11, 2024

Philadelphia Program Allows Students to Tap into Healing Power of Music, WHYY (Pennsylvania) Students in afterschool programs across Philadelphia are expressing themselves and processing difficult emotions through songwriting thanks to Beyond The Bars, a local nonprofit. Matt Kerr founded the...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 09/11/24

Weekly Media Roundup: September 4, 2024

Edwardsburg Launches Before and After School Care Program on First Day of Classes, WNDU (Michigan) Camp Fire River Bend is opening a new before-school and afterschool program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Edwardsburg, Michigan, and it already has a waitlist....

BY: Magen Eissenstat 09/04/24

Weekly Media Roundup: August 28, 2024

Anonymous Donor Saves Troy After-School Program, News 10 (New York) For 45 years, the Ark has provided a safe, enriching afterschool program for students in Troy, New York. But when the program lost a grant that covered 90 percent of its budget, Executive Director Penny Holmes worried it would...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 08/28/24

Weekly Media Roundup: August 21, 2024

Madison Out-of-School Time (MOST) to Recognize Outstanding Youth Workers for Their Dedication and Creativity Supporting Youth, Madison 365 (Wisconsin) Next week, Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will honor 11 afterschool staff members as Madison-area Out-of-School Time (MOST)...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 08/21/24

Weekly Media Roundup: August 14, 2024

Virginia Designates Additional Aid for At-Risk Students, Virginia Mercury (Virginia) Beginning this fall, Virginia schools will have an additional $180 million per year to support at-risk students. A 2023 study found that Virginia provided less state funding for at-risk students than the...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 08/14/24

Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week

While you might already be aware of October being the month for celebrating Lights On Afterschool, did you know there is another celebration happening as well? Digital Inclusion Week is October 7 to 11 this year, but it is being honored the entire month of October. Similar to how Lights On...

BY: Leslie Brooks 10/08/24

October resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for October 2024 Techbridge Girls: Become a Certified Techbridge Girls STEM Curriculum Facilitator October 16: Applications Open October 30: Information Session. REGISTER. Using a blend of theory and application, youth instructors become certified in delivering Techbridge...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 10/07/24

Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society: Our Theory of Change

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people can make in their communities when their afterschool programs support them to layer action onto...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi 10/01/24

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Annia Quiroz, Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. Looking for a great way to engage kids in STEM during this year’s Lights On Afterschool? The National 4-H Council's 2024 4-H STEM Challenge, Food for Thought, might be the kit for you and your participants. STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger 09/27/24

Make math magic

By Laurie Posner for Mizzen Education. Just in time for fall and Lights On Afterschool, Mizzen Education and Learn Fresh have teamed up to bring you exhilarating, free content specially designed for afterschool programs to help build math skills. The fun begins with NBA Math Hoops! Invented...

BY: Guest Blogger 09/18/24

As Congress returns to Washington, STEM advocates seek adequate funding

As the summer ends, members of Congress, their staff, and advocates for many causes are getting ready for the next steps in the FY 2025 budget and appropriations process. When Congress adjourned for its annual August recess, the House had passed five of the twelve annual spending bills, while the...

BY: Leslie Brooks 09/13/24

Just in time for school: New Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review!

The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is happy to share the fall edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter with the afterschool community! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool,...

BY: Leslie Brooks 09/09/24

Plug-and-Play Playlists for K-12 youth

This information was provided by the team at Mizzen Education. Sign up for their newsletter today! Mizzen offers a wealth of high-quality learning tools to the out-of-school time field. This week, we are focusing on one particular type of resource: plug-and-play playlists. Unlike Mizzen...

BY: Guest Blogger 08/08/24

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for August 2024 ACRES Coaching: Making Math Engaging Thursdays: 8/22, 9/5, 9/19/2024 1:00 - 3:00 pm EST / 10:00 am- Noon PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 08/06/24

New resource database for programs interested in STEM, civic engagement, and youth empowerment

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change...

BY: Leah Silverberg 08/05/24

Newly introduced legislation would expand opportunities for community service in Federal Work-Study programs

U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT) recently introduced the Students Working for Communities Act to foster and expand student opportunities to participate in community service under the Federal Work-Study Program. The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides students with work...

BY: Jillian Luchner 10/04/24

New Department of Education School Improvement Guidance includes afterschool and summer as important strategies

In early September, the White House released two documents that speak to the role that quality afterschool and summer learning programs can and do play in supporting student success. The White House Fact Sheet on Academic Success and the new School Improvement Guidance are complementary and outline...

BY: Erik Peterson 09/20/24

During election season, afterschool remains a bipartisan issue

Election Day is quickly approaching, making it a good time to look at how afterschool and summer learning programs might be impacted by the policy platforms of the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. While policy platforms do not necessarily reflect how the candidates might address an...

BY: Erik Peterson 09/17/24

21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance finalized, includes updated information on parent fees

On September 3, the U.S. Department of Education published its final Non-Regulatory Guidance for the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program. This guidance officially replaces the last edition of guidance published in 2003. The guidance aligns with the updated legislative...

BY: Erik Peterson 09/06/24

Child care momentum continues with a re-introduced bill for CCDBG

On August 1, Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2024. The act builds on the current Child Care and Development Block Grant legislation last reauthorized in 2014. Additional co-sponsors include Todd Young (R-IN), Susan...

BY: Jillian Luchner 08/13/24

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on August 1, 2024. The bill proposes $231.34 billion in base discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2025, and the Committee approved the bill along...

BY: Erik Peterson 08/02/24

Summer for All legislation introduced in the Senate

On July 26, at Camp Courant summer learning program in Farmington, CT, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced the introduction of the Summer for All Act. The new federal legislation aims to help provide high-quality summer enrichment opportunities to all children, youth and families, and...

BY: Erik Peterson 07/30/24

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

This week, both the House and Senate made progress on the FY 2025 appropriations cycle. The House Appropriations Committee continued to approve bills sent to them by the 12 spending subcommittees, while the Senate got its process started by deciding topline figures. House Committee acts on...

BY: Erik Peterson 07/12/24

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

On June 27, the House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2025 spending bill. Overall, the FY 2025 Labor-Health and Humans Services-Education bill (Labor-H) provides $68.1 billion for Department...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/27/24

Braiding pandemic relief funds to increase afterschool and summer opportunities

School districts continue to leverage American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to support students in afterschool and summer programs. Two new spotlights, Chickasaw City Schools and Tuscaloosa City Schools. take a closer look at how two school...

BY: Liana Shivers 06/21/24

Celebrate Lights On Afterschool with these last-minute ideas

The time has come: we are officially two weeks out from Lights On Afterschool day! Did you think it was too late to join in the celebration? Well, think again! Whether you want to partake in the Lightbulb Challenge or light up a local landmark, here are some ways to get involved in Lights On...

BY: Lucy Maddox 10/10/24

Passing the microphone: Ways to amplify youth voice during Lights On Afterschool

Lights On Afterschool is the perfect time to pass the microphone to the young people in your community and let them share their thoughts and experiences with a larger audience. From the planning to the execution, youth can be involved in all aspects of your Lights On event. There are plenty of...

BY: Lucy Maddox 10/03/24

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

BY: Guest Blogger 09/27/24

Transform your afterschool program into a fun-filled carnival for Lights On

For the sheer variety of activities, there’s nothing like a carnival to showcase all the ways your program supports kids and families in your community. Attendees of your celebration have numerous opportunities to explore everything on offer through booths or stations with different games,...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/19/24

Make math magic

BY: Guest Blogger 09/18/24

Shine a spotlight on your students during Lights On Afterschool

Put the young people in your afterschool program center stage during your Lights On Afterschool celebration. Hosting a talent showcase is a great way to get students excited about participating in your event and to encourage families to come to the party and see what their children are doing...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/12/24

Host a rally for Lights On Afterschool this year

Organizing a rally is a fantastic way to bring your community together and actively demonstrate the importance of afterschool programs. These powerful celebrations foster enthusiasm and meaningful conversations, create a collective call to action for more afterschool, and also attract media...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/05/24

Easy event idea: Host an open house for Lights On Afterschool

Hosting an open house is a fantastic way to shine a light on your community’s afterschool and summer programs. It’s also an opportunity to engage with students, families, teachers, school administrators, and elected officials about the importance and impact of these programs. There...

BY: Lucy Maddox 08/29/24

Chatting with the Lights On poster contest winners

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash Sophia and Elizabeth are youth participants at RAD ART, a key component of the Houston Healthy Hip-Hop initiative in Houston, Texas. Led by Ms. Harper, the afterschool program director, RAD ART offers a unique blend of artistic exploration and personal...

BY: Shaun Gray 08/22/24

It’s Lights On Afterschool season!

It's on! Lights On Afterschool is back for its 25th year—please join us in the nation's only celebration of afterschool and out-of-school time programs! With 10 weeks until October 24, now is the perfect time to register and begin planning your event. Explore our planning guide to...

BY: Lucy Maddox 08/16/24

Child care momentum continues with a re-introduced bill for CCDBG

BY: Jillian Luchner 08/13/24

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

BY: Erik Peterson 08/02/24

Summer for All legislation introduced in the Senate

BY: Erik Peterson 07/30/24

Senate Finance Committee examines the State of Child Care

On July 9, 2024, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing titled "Examining the State of Child Care: How Federal Policy Solutions Can Support Families, Close Existing Gaps, and Strengthen Economic Growth." This hearing addressed the urgent child care crisis in the United States. The...

BY: Jamaiya Nowling 07/25/24

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

BY: Erik Peterson 07/12/24

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

BY: Erik Peterson 06/27/24

Get ready for the 2024 Afterschool for All Challenge!

The 2024 Afterschool for All Challenge is coming up on June 11! To help afterschool supporters prepare to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill, Erik Peterson, Senior Vice President of Policy, and Maria Rizo, Senior Communications Associate, shared the latest policy news and top tips to advocate...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 05/31/24

FY 25 appropriations process hits its stride, time to advocate for afterschool

After many delays, Congress finished work on fiscal year (FY) 2024 spending bills in late March, allowing lawmakers to immediately turn to the FY 2025 process. The House Appropriations Committee has a new Chairman, both House and Senate Appropriation Committees have released guidance for spending...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/03/24

Afterschool STEM Hub hosts Capitol Hill briefing on impact of afterschool STEM programs on older youth

Panel featuring Anita Krishnamurthi, Zainab Abbas, Natalie Taitano, Siobhán Hayes, and Jubei Brown-Weaver. Photo courtesy of Liana Shivers. On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, hosted a congressional briefing on the benefits of...

BY: Leslie Brooks 04/29/24

House advances legislation that would improve youth workforce development

On April 9, the US House of Representatives approved H.R. 6655, “A Stronger Workforce for America Act,” by a vote of 378 to 26. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes and makes critical improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and seeks to expand skills...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/26/24

Recapping the third Engage Every Student Summit

On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education hosted the third Engage Every Student Summit in Washington, D.C. Non-profits, representatives from cities and local governments, and afterschool and summer learning programs gathered at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library to participate in panel...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 08/01/24

Youth Voice Week 2024 was a huge success

The voices of young people are still echoing in afterschool programs across the nation, in the halls of Congress, and across social media after a powerful Youth Voice Week! From March 25-29, the Afterschool Alliance partnered with the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society and...

BY: Maria Rizo 04/15/24

By helping create my afterschool program, I became the person I am today

By Ava Havidic, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. March 25 to 29, 2024 is Youth Voice Week! All this week, we will publish blogs from our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors, as they describe the impact their program has had on their lives and why afterschool is important to them and their...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/29/24

I'm grateful to my afterschool program for giving me a place to belong and helping me make friends.

By Gabrielle Haynes, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. March 25 to 29, 2024 is Youth Voice Week! All this week, we will publish blogs from our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors, as they describe the impact their program has had on their lives and why afterschool is important to them and...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/27/24

I have been led by my afterschool teachers, and now I am leading the youth of today.

By Jay'Len Clark, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. March 25 to 29, 2024 is Youth Voice Week! All this week, we will publish blogs from our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors, as they describe the impact their program has had on their lives and why afterschool is important to them and...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/26/24

Afterschool gave me access to opportunities that improved my outlook on life.

By Brandon Tibbs, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. March 25 to 29, 2024 is Youth Voice Week! All this week, we will publish blogs from our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors, as they describe the impact their program has had on their lives and why afterschool is important to them and...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/25/24

It's almost Youth Voice Week! Here's how to participate.

Next week marks the start of Youth Voice Week 2024, and all eyes are on the young people in afterschool. From March 25 to 29, we’re amplifying young people’s voices as they share the issues that are most important to them, and we’re inviting your program’s youth to...

BY: Maria Rizo 03/22/24

Afterschool is changing the narrative in my community

By Brandon Tibbs, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. Where I’m from, there’s three ways to be: a “Norbit” (a scholar), a “hoodlum,” or a baller. Afterschool programs aim to change that narrative. A typical day in the ComED youth program would...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/21/24

In afterschool, I had amazing experiences and got to meet amazing people

By Gabrielle Haynes, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. Throughout middle school, I loved going to the Boys and Girls Club afterschool, and I especially loved the staff. Being at the club felt like home to me; it just felt normal and comfortable. Every day, at about 2:15 pm, we would...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/19/24

In afterschool, we're building community and celebrating progress

By Edgar Euceda, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. One meaningful lesson I've learned in the Elsik Afterschool Debate Club, particularly as president of the club, is the importance of having a community that's not only supportive but also celebrates progress. A few...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/14/24

The latest research on the impact of afterschool and summer programs

A 2023 U.S. Department of Education report on 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) programs nationally found that nearly half of participating students who were chronically absent the previous year improved their school-day attendance in the current school year, while a meta-analysis...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro 09/30/24

21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance finalized, includes updated information on parent fees

BY: Erik Peterson 09/06/24

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

BY: Erik Peterson 08/02/24

Senate Finance Committee examines the State of Child Care

BY: Jamaiya Nowling 07/25/24

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

BY: Erik Peterson 07/12/24

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

BY: Erik Peterson 06/27/24

5 highlights from the Afterschool for All Challenge 2024

This week, 200 advocates from across the country — including nine of our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors — came to Washington, D.C., as part of the Afterschool for All Challenge. On June 11, supporters attended meetings on Capitol Hill to urge their elected officials to support increased...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 06/13/24

It's the Afterschool for All Challenge! Join us on June 11

The Afterschool for All Challenge is back for 2024! Join us starting Tuesday, June 11, as we head to Capitol Hill to encourage Congress to make sustained investments in afterschool and summer programs. We know that afterschool and summer programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn,...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 06/07/24

Get ready for the 2024 Afterschool for All Challenge!

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 05/31/24

Three key takeaways from a new brief on 21st Century Community Learning Centers

A new brief, “21st Century Community Learning Centers: Accelerating Learning, Supporting Families, Earning Results,” draws on data from the most recent Department of Education annual report on the federally funded initiative, as well as pulls in survey responses from 21st Century...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro 05/21/24

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RECENT AFTERSCHOOL SNACKS

Policy

News Roundup

STEM

research

FEATURED FOR Dec 21, 2024

STEM

Final Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review of 2024 - A focus on youth-led community impact

Funding

After$chool Funding: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

In the Field

Afterschool programs offer an antidote to social media harms. Big Tech settlements should foot the bill.

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: December 11, 2024

Policy

Practice and policy recommendations featured during UnidosUS and BGCA Hill briefing

Funding

After$chool Funding: Full-Service Community Schools

Policy

Linda McMahon nominated to be Secretary of Education for the second Trump Administration

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: December 4, 2024

Policy

Washington, D.C. Council Committee hearing focuses on universal access to afterschool and summer programs

STEM

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: November 27, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: October 9, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: October 2, 2024

Bring out student creativity during Lights On Afterschool

Weekly Media Roundup: September 25, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: September 18, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: September 11, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: September 4, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: August 28, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: August 21, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: August 14, 2024

Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week

October resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society: Our Theory of Change

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

Make math magic

As Congress returns to Washington, STEM advocates seek adequate funding

Just in time for school: New Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review!

Plug-and-Play Playlists for K-12 youth

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

New resource database for programs interested in STEM, civic engagement, and youth empowerment

Newly introduced legislation would expand opportunities for community service in Federal Work-Study programs

New Department of Education School Improvement Guidance includes afterschool and summer as important strategies

During election season, afterschool remains a bipartisan issue

21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance finalized, includes updated information on parent fees

Child care momentum continues with a re-introduced bill for CCDBG

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

Summer for All legislation introduced in the Senate

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

Braiding pandemic relief funds to increase afterschool and summer opportunities

Celebrate Lights On Afterschool with these last-minute ideas

Passing the microphone: Ways to amplify youth voice during Lights On Afterschool

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

Transform your afterschool program into a fun-filled carnival for Lights On

Make math magic

Shine a spotlight on your students during Lights On Afterschool

Host a rally for Lights On Afterschool this year

Easy event idea: Host an open house for Lights On Afterschool

Chatting with the Lights On poster contest winners

It’s Lights On Afterschool season!

Child care momentum continues with a re-introduced bill for CCDBG

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

Summer for All legislation introduced in the Senate

Senate Finance Committee examines the State of Child Care

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

Get ready for the 2024 Afterschool for All Challenge!