As communities adjust to a new normal, afterschool and summer learning programs and capable, caring staff members will be more needed than ever. Make the most of your virtual workspaces and distance from physical sites by connecting your colleagues to professional development opportunities and trainings. While your program will be able to retain their valuable experience, they'll keep their skills sharp and be ready to dive right back into the new out-of-school time landscape.
Statewide Afterschool Networks
Many statewide afterschool networks offer free webinars or other web-based trainings on a variety of topics. Some networks are in the process of developing new trainings, so be sure to periodically check your state's website for more information.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
You for Youth
The U.S. Department of Education's You for Youth technical assistance site has a robust offering of professional development modules. While designed for 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, these trainings cover topics any youth development professional will find important; including literacy, SEL, family engagement, and developing strategic partnerships.
Added 4/17/20Foundations, Inc
Well known for their Beyond School Hours Conference, Foundations, Inc also provides professional learning opportunities through a series of low cost webinars. Topics include family engagement, cultural competence, supporting older youth, and program quality, among other areas.
Added 4/17/20National Afterschool Association
The National Afterschool Association offers members a variety of professional development modules through its TurnkeyPD resource. Learn about about ways to engage both your students and your staff in your afterschool program.
Added 4/17/20Click2Science
Click2SciencePD offers STEM professional development resources for out-of-school time program providers. The site hosts a variety of self-directed web lessons, webinars, and guides for staff trainings on STEM in out-of-school time programs directed at program leaders, frontline staff, and program volunteers. Click2Science resources are low cost professional development opportunities with web lessons costing five dollars for professional development credit.
Added 4/17/20Better Kid Care
Penn State Extension's Better Kid Care website offers low cost distance learning professional development opportunities for afterschool program providers. A particular focus is on the foundations of positive youth development.
Added 4/17/20IRIS Center
The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University provides professional development opportunities with a focus on supporting students with disabilities.
Added 4/17/20National Summer Learning Association
Thinking about summer? The National Summer Learning Association hosts periodic webinars on topics of interest to summer program providers.
Added 4/17/20National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association is offering free, 30-day memberships to new members. These memberships include access to 12,000 professional learning resources and tools.
Added 4/21/20Cox Campus
The Atlanta Speech School's Cox Campus provides digital professional development opportunities with a focus on literacy for children in Pre-K through 3rd grade. A joint partnership between the Atlanta Speech School, the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, and Foundations, Inc., Cox Campus provides free, video-based courses to help you integrate evidence based practices into your teaching.Added 4/21/20
Afterschool Alliance Webinars
Check out our numerous webinars with a professional development focus.Added 4/21/20
