Weekly Media Roundup - October 5, 2011

Unified Leader Chosen as National After-School Programming Ambassador (Journal Times, Wisconsin) and  Boys & Girls Club Director Gets National Appointment (Havre Daily News, Montana)
Kathy Dunkerson and Tim Brurud are among the new Afterschool Ambassadors to receive media coverage for their appointments.  The class of 20 Ambassadors, from 17 states, will serve a one-year term organizing public events, communicating with policy makers and building support for afterschool programs.  They will also coordinate a major community event for the 12th annual Lights On Afterschool on October 20.

After-School Research Continues to Show Impact (Education Week’s Beyond School blog)
The Beyond School blog provides a roundup of recent research on the benefits of afterschool, including key components of quality afterschool programs and the results of a two-year longitudinal study that shows afterschool programs raised math and reading scores for at-risk middle school students in Baltimore.  Find more research and facts about afterschool here.

Schools Tailor After-School Programs to Target Needs (Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada)
Nevada schools that receive 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funds for their afterschool programs offer a variety of enrichment activities for students that include supplemental academic lessons, like cooking classes that teach math through measuring ingredients.  "It ties back into the school day," said Sharyn Peal, director of Nevada's Department of Education 21st CCLC program.  “Some people think that school and after-school are separate, and they're not."

Greenacres Kids Spend Day Off Learning About Government (Palm Beach Post, Florida)
“Thirteen boys and girls toured Greenacres departments, including finance, planning and engineering, public safety and leisure services as part of the annual Florida City Government Week project for students in the city's after-school programs,” the Palm Beach Post reports.