Afterschool Snack

Weekly Media Roundup: May 10, 2023

D.O.V.E.S Afterschool Program Builds Self-Esteem, Confidence in Local Elementary Students, WMDT (Maryland) At the D.O.V.E.S. (Daughters of Value, Excellence and Success) afterschool program in Salisbury, Maryland, young girls are empowered to be themselves and support one another and others in...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 05/10/23

Weekly Media Roundup: May 3, 2023

Rally at the Capitol for Funding Afterschool Programs, Fox 43 (Pennsylvania) Afterschool providers, parents and advocates gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg today to urge the state legislature to pass House Bill 795, which would provide state funding for afterschool...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 05/03/23

Weekly Media Roundup: April 26, 2023

Local After School Care Program Aims to Help Kids Regain Knowledge Lost Due to COVID, KFDA (Texas) At the Bear Paws afterschool program in Amarillo, Texas, middle school students are participating in engaging activities to tackle learning loss from the pandemic. “We’re trying to...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 04/26/23

Weekly Media Roundup: April 19, 2023

After-School Program and City Officials Celebrate Arbor Day, Cumberland Times-News (Maryland) In honor of Arbor Day, elementary school students from Allegany County Public Schools’ afterschool programs participated in a tree planting ceremony at Gene Mason Sports Complex in Cumberland,...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 04/19/23

Weekly Media Roundup: April 12, 2023

Schools Used ESSER Funds for After-School Programs. What Happens When the Money Runs Out? Education Week With the assistance of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding, afterschool and summer programs throughout the country were able to expand and serve a greater number...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 04/12/23

Weekly Media Roundup: April 5, 2023

After-School Programs Financed with Pandemic Funds Making a Difference in Chester County, Daily Local News (Pennsylvania) Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is helping Mighty Writers and Coatesville Kids to College, two afterschool programs in Chester County, Pennsylvania, expand...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 04/05/23

Weekly Media Roundup: March 29, 2023

Commentary: SC Afterschool Programs Can Help Close Gender Gap in STEM Industries, The Post and Courier (South Carolina) In a recent guest column for the Post and Courier, South Carolina Afterschool Alliance President and CEO Zelda Waymer notes the overlap between Women’s History Month and...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 03/29/23

Weekly Media Roundup: March 22, 2023

Non-Profit Helps Lynn Students Prepare for Careers in Human Services, CBS Boston (Massachusetts) At the Pathways to Opportunities afterschool program at Lynn Classical High School in Massachusetts, high schoolers explore careers in human services with help from mentors from the Northeast Arc, a...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 03/22/23

Weekly Media Roundup: March 15, 2023

Youth Invited to Reimagine Sioux Falls with City Build 2040 Event, Dakota News Now (South Dakota) Elementary schoolers attending the South Dakota Afterschool Network’s two-day City Build 2040 event in Sioux Falls will work with local experts to create models that showcase their vision for...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 03/15/23

Weekly Media Roundup: March 8, 2023

STUDENT VOICES: We Need More Women in STEM Fields, and We Have Ideas for Making that Happen, The Hechinger Report In a guest column for the Hechinger Report, high schoolers Henrietta Rasmusson and Emerald Yankey list three priorities for increasing women’s participation in science,...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 03/08/23

Fall afterschool provider survey results: A child care provider perspective

The recent Afterschool Provider Survey, published February 2023, included a universe of over 1,000 programs across the country. Of the 1,016 programs surveyed, just under 10 percent (92) identified themselves as “afterschool programs run by child care centers.” The data allow for...

BY: Jillian Luchner 05/08/23

New guide to support district engagement in the National Partnership for Student Success

The National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) just published a helpful resource for the field: a District Partnership Toolkit. NPSS is public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Education, AmeriCorps, and John Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center, with a goal to bring 250,000...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/25/23

300 ways pandemic relief funds are supporting afterschool and summer

We’re thrilled to share a new and improved interactive map showing examples of afterschool and summer programming supported by pandemic relief funds. From experiential learning camps in Vermont where youth learned how to use a compass and identify wild edibles; to STEM offerings in...

BY: Ursula Helminski 04/17/23

COVID-relief funds deep dive (part 1)

By Emily Murtaugh and Liana Shivers. Two years have passed since states received their portion of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III or ARP ESSER) funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Funds, allocated at the state education agency (SEA) and local...

BY: Guest Blogger 04/14/23

ARP funds are helping young people stay active

As the weather warms up this spring, we are highlighting how American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding supports kids getting outside to play and move their bodies. Physical activity is essential to a young person’s development; from pre-pandemic levels to during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been...

BY: Emily Murtaugh 04/10/23

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

This month, we’re highlighting ways that COVID-relief funds are increasing ways for students to explore their artistic passions, as a part of our series highlighting the wide variety of examples available in our map of City, State, and School District Investments in Afterschool and Summer...

BY: Sophie Kidd 03/06/23

Afterschool program provider survey reveals three key stressors preventing a return to normal

This past fall, more than 9 in 10 program providers responding to an Afterschool Alliance survey reported that they are open, with majorities providing their students with opportunities for academic enrichment, collaboration and connection with their peers, building foundational skills, and...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro 02/28/23

ARP funds used to help young people prepare for the jobs of tomorrow

We continue to improve our American Rescue Plan map, showcasing examples of how cities, states, and school districts use pandemic relief funds to support afterschool and summer learning. What started as a chart with 15+ examples has become an interactive map in collaboration with the National...

BY: Liana Shivers 02/02/23

Afterschool in the Time of COVID-19: Health and wellness for students and families

Evidence shows that afterschool and summer learning programs are safe places where students can connect with one another, develop their confidence, interact with knowledgeable and caring staff, and more. As a part of our blog series following the “Access to Afterschool Programs Remains a...

BY: Sophie Kidd 12/13/22

Afterschool in the time of COVID-19: Barriers to afterschool and summer participation

Unmet demand for afterschool and summer learning programs and other barriers to access are impacting parents and families across the country, though some families are facing more barriers than others. Inequities exist, with unmet demand and barriers to participation being greater among communities...

BY: Sophie Kidd 11/17/22

Building peer-to-peer relationships and taking "safe risks": Project Morry

In a conversation with Dawn Ewing, Executive Director of Project Morry, we sat down to discuss how the program is fostering a safe space for youth to re-engage during the summer and how youth are able to define success on their own terms. Project Morry was one of the 36 grantees of the 2021 Aim...

BY: Maria Rizo 01/19/23

What we saw during Lights On 2022: Part 1

Welcome to part one of "What we saw during Lights On 2022." As we head into the new year, we wanted to share some of the first-hand accounts from our staff members who were able to visit afterschool programs during this year's Lights On. You can read part two on the blog. Mark...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 12/15/22

Now open: Grants up to $100,000 from the New York Life Foundation for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs

The New York Life Foundation is seeking applications for $1,800,000 in grants to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving underserved middle-school youth. This is the seventh year of the Foundation’s Aim High grant competition, and this year’s awards will bring...

BY: Dan Gilbert 12/06/22

Spotlight on STEM at YMCA Houston's 21st CCLC Lights On celebration

This Lights On Afterschool, the Afterschool Alliance partnered with Energy Superheroes and Trailblazers from the award-winning multicultural nonfiction children’s book series, Everyday Superheroes to bring STEM learning to four different local Lights On celebrations. One of those celebrations...

BY: Maria Rizo 11/28/22

Guest blog: Help your students share their thoughts with World’s Largest Lesson education survey

By Michelle Mann, Director, Social Impact, NetApp. Each year, the World’s Largest Lesson creates learning opportunities for educators across the globe to engage students in exploring and problem-solving around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This school year, the lesson is...

BY: Guest Blogger 11/21/22

"I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world": An interview with Girls Empowerment Network

We spoke with Ami Kane, Deputy Director at the Girls Empowerment Network, to discuss how the Spark Change Project is empowering girls to become advocates for the issues that matter the most to them and strengthening critical supports for their students with help from the New York Life...

BY: Maria Rizo 10/24/22

Expanding possibilities for students with The Wooden Floor, a New York Life Foundation Aim High grantee

In a follow-up conversation with 2021 New York Life Foundation Aim High grantee The Wooden Floor, we spoke with Chief Executive Officer Dawn S. Reese to discuss more on how the Aim High grant has continued to support the program in the past year and what she is seeing among youth today. Read our...

BY: Maria Rizo 09/29/22

5 ways to share your students' entrepreneurial mindsets during Lights On

By Scott Mann, VentureLab, Jessie Jones and Kelly Biggar of Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), and Liz Nusken, Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN). Photo courtesy of Youth Panel on Entrepreneurship Education. Afterschool programs play a vital role in helping young people explore and develop...

BY: Guest Blogger 09/26/22

September resources from Million Girls Moonshot

To help students see themselves with a future in STEM and to broaden understanding of science history, it is important for students to learn about a diverse range of scientists and engineers. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight a few of the Hispanic and Latinx scientists and engineers...

BY: Chris Neitzey 09/20/22

Resources to help you Engage Every Student from wherever you sit

New parent data shows that for every child in an afterschool program, there are now four more who are waiting for an available program. It is more important than ever to amplify ways for programs, communities, districts, and states to connect every student to an afterschool program that wants...

BY: Maria Rizo 09/08/22

Trio of newly introduced bills align with recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

While Congress and the White House struggle with raising the debt ceiling and getting the appropriations process back on track, legislation continues to be introduced in both the House and Senate. Beginning in late April, a trio of bills have been introduced that provide critical supports for...

BY: Erik Peterson 05/11/23

Secretary Cardona makes the case for robust education spending at House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing

The FY 2024 appropriations process continues in the House this month, with agency heads testifying on the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. On Tuesday, April 18, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a budget...

BY: Erik Peterson 04/21/23

Workforce Pathways for Youth grants available

In March, the Department of Labor published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Workforce Pathways for Youth Grants. A pre-recorded applicant webinar will be available by April 14, 2023 and applications will be due May 19, 2023. The grants offer up to $2 million to national out-of-school time...

BY: Jillian Luchner 04/07/23

USDA proposed changes will increase access to summer meals in rural areas

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently proposed a new rule that would allow summer meal programs to provide meals to children in non-congregate settings. The proposal is a result of significant policy changes for Child Nutrition programming that were included in the...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/28/23

Comments requested on proposed changes to afterschool and summer meal nutrition standards

UPDATE 4/6/23: The deadline for comments has been extended from April 10, 2023 to May 10, 2023. Last month the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed new nutrition standards for school meals provided through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. These proposed...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/24/23

Bipartisan Youth Workforce Readiness Act reintroduced in the Senate

This month, a bipartisan group of Senate co-sponsors reintroduced the Youth Workforce Readiness Act (S 454). The legislation, first introduced in 2019, would create a competitive grant program through the Department of Labor to support collaborations of national youth-serving out-of-school...

BY: Jillian Luchner 03/20/23

Navigating the “No” in ARP funding conversations

As you are working to connect to your local and state offices and districts to make the case for using their American Rescue Plan resources to partner with afterschool and summer learning programs, you may encounter some “No”s. A new resource, “Help Responding to ARP Nos,”...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 03/17/23

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

BY: Sophie Kidd 03/06/23

March madness = Budget & appropriations process kickoff!

This year, early March means the release of the president’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year and the beginning of the FY 2024 appropriations process in Congress. Here's what we know so far about how this year’s process may roll out in the coming year. On or...

BY: Erik Peterson 03/01/23

STEM education update: Good news and looking ahead

In the final weeks of 2022, Congress passed a $1.7 trillion spending bill to fund every agency through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2023. The bill was the product of weeks of negotiations and defense spending, supporting the CHIPS and Science Act and some policy issues attached to the bill took...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi 02/23/23

Pandemic relief funds are helping support youth and families' mental health

We continue to add examples to the American Rescue Plan map, illuminating how cities, states, and school districts use pandemic relief funds to support afterschool and summer learning. Today, we are focusing on mental health. Why? May is National Mental Health Awareness Month! In 2021,...

BY: Liana Shivers 05/12/23

300 ways pandemic relief funds are supporting afterschool and summer

BY: Ursula Helminski 04/17/23

COVID-relief funds deep dive (part 1)

BY: Guest Blogger 04/14/23

ARP funds are helping young people stay active

BY: Emily Murtaugh 04/10/23

Navigating the “No” in ARP funding conversations

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 03/17/23

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

BY: Sophie Kidd 03/06/23

ARP funds used to help young people prepare for the jobs of tomorrow

BY: Liana Shivers 02/02/23

Top afterschool highlights from 2022

Every December, we reflect on the challenges, achievements, and changes in the world of afterschool and summer. 2022 has been a busy and exciting year for our field. From “afterschool for all” echoing in the halls of the Department of Education with the launch of the Engage Every...

BY: Jodi Grant 12/23/22

$50M in 21st CCLC funds from Bipartisan Safer Communities Act sent to states

This summer, a group of 20 Democratic and Republican Senators, led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), worked to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included gun safety measures, mental health support investments, and school safety provisions that aim to...

BY: Erik Peterson 11/03/22

More than half of superintendents say summer learning/enrichment programs will decrease or end after ARP funding runs out, according to new survey

This summer, The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) released the third part of their series “School District Spending of American Rescue Plan Funding” which surveys district leaders on how they’re using ARP funds to respond to the pandemic and learning...

BY: Sophie Kidd 10/11/22

Technovation teaches girls how to use technology to solve real-world problems—and to become leaders

By Maggie Jaris, Director of Content Strategy at Technovation. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of...

BY: Guest Blogger 05/05/23

May resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

During the month of May, the Million Girls Moonshot celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). Our country owes a lot of our success to many hardworking, innovative AAPI computer scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals. These assets will support Networks and...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 05/01/23

Youth in action: Earth Day

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “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...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi 04/28/23

April resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Every year on April 25 since 2003, scientists, biologists, and genetics enthusiasts come together to observe National DNA Day, celebrating the discovery and research into DNA and the scientific advancements that helped make progress possible. National DNA Day encourages people to learn more about...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 04/03/23

March resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

March means Women’s History Month! Women’s History Month is a wonderful time to honor the stories, achievements, and legacies of the amazing women who shaped STEM fields as we know them today. By educating ourselves about the past, we can create a bright future for women and girls to...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 03/21/23

Youth serve as STEM ambassadors with Chief Science Officers International

This is the first of the Afterschool Alliance's new series of blogs highlighting examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people can make in their communities when their afterschool programs support them...

BY: Guest Blogger 03/03/23

STEM education update: Good news and looking ahead

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi 02/23/23

Enhancing STEM opportunities for all students

By Katelyn Miller, Youth Afterschool Ambassador, class of 2023. Hi everyone! My name is Katelyn Miller and I participate in the Create 205 Lab at the Birmingham Public Library, which has encouraged me to pursue computer science as a career option. While participating, I have also won two...

BY: Guest Blogger 02/21/23

Statewide afterschool networks continue to advance STEM as a policy priority at the state level

The Afterschool Alliance and STEM Education Coalition enter our seventh year of a project to support the development and advancement of STEM learning at the state level, in partnership with the Statewide Afterschool Networks and funded by the Overdeck Family Foundation. This year’s cohort...

BY: Chris Neitzey 02/14/23

January resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Happy New Year! January is National Mentoring Month - a national celebration of the role models and mentors that have made monumental differences in the lives of so many. Listed as one of Moonshot’s four transformative practices, role models and mentors play a significant role in showing...

BY: Tierra Easter 01/26/23

Archives:

New podcast discusses youth perspectives on program design

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New podcast discusses youth perspectives on program design

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RECENT AFTERSCHOOL SNACKS

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In the Field

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FEATURED FOR Jun 6, 2023

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Afterschool a priority for Asian American and Pacific Islander voters

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The Climate Initiative's Climate Hope

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Congressional efforts to support workforce development skills embrace afterschool and summer learning

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Weekly Media Roundup: May 24, 2024

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Kicking off a celebration of 25 years of 21st CCLC

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Your feedback needed on 21st Century Community Learning Center draft non-regulatory guidance

Lights On Afterschool

The 2023 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is open!

Policy

Department of Education calls for commitment of community service across universities

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: May 17, 2023

In the Field

Amobi Okugo joins board of the Afterschool Alliance

In the Field

Activities and resources to celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

Weekly Media Roundup: May 10, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: May 3, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: April 26, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: April 19, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: April 12, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: April 5, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: March 29, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: March 22, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: March 15, 2023

Weekly Media Roundup: March 8, 2023

Fall afterschool provider survey results: A child care provider perspective

New guide to support district engagement in the National Partnership for Student Success

300 ways pandemic relief funds are supporting afterschool and summer

COVID-relief funds deep dive (part 1)

ARP funds are helping young people stay active

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

Afterschool program provider survey reveals three key stressors preventing a return to normal

ARP funds used to help young people prepare for the jobs of tomorrow

Afterschool in the Time of COVID-19: Health and wellness for students and families

Afterschool in the time of COVID-19: Barriers to afterschool and summer participation

Building peer-to-peer relationships and taking "safe risks": Project Morry

What we saw during Lights On 2022: Part 1

Now open: Grants up to $100,000 from the New York Life Foundation for Out-of-School Time (OST) programs

Spotlight on STEM at YMCA Houston's 21st CCLC Lights On celebration

Guest blog: Help your students share their thoughts with World’s Largest Lesson education survey

"I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world": An interview with Girls Empowerment Network

Expanding possibilities for students with The Wooden Floor, a New York Life Foundation Aim High grantee

5 ways to share your students' entrepreneurial mindsets during Lights On

September resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Resources to help you Engage Every Student from wherever you sit

Trio of newly introduced bills align with recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

Secretary Cardona makes the case for robust education spending at House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing

Workforce Pathways for Youth grants available

USDA proposed changes will increase access to summer meals in rural areas

Comments requested on proposed changes to afterschool and summer meal nutrition standards

Bipartisan Youth Workforce Readiness Act reintroduced in the Senate

Navigating the “No” in ARP funding conversations

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

March madness = Budget & appropriations process kickoff!

STEM education update: Good news and looking ahead

Pandemic relief funds are helping support youth and families' mental health

300 ways pandemic relief funds are supporting afterschool and summer

COVID-relief funds deep dive (part 1)

ARP funds are helping young people stay active

Navigating the “No” in ARP funding conversations

Using COVID-relief funds to support young people across the country

ARP funds used to help young people prepare for the jobs of tomorrow