Network News - September 5, 2008
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Network News
Welcome Back!
On behalf of the California Afterschool Network, we want to welcome you back to a new school year and provide you with the resources you need to succeed. Likewise, The Network would like to thank you for providing California’s youth with quality programming and the emotional, social, and academic support to be successful in and after school. Below you will find resources that may help you start off on the right foot.
The Network is Still Accepting Peer-to-Peer Mentee Applications!
The California Afterschool Network’s Peer-to-Peer Mentoring project will match experienced site directors with newer site directors in each region to help newer site coordinators increase their program’s quality. Mentees will receive a small stipend to participate in this professional development opportunity. The Network is still accepting a limited number of applications on a first come first served basis for Mentees in its peer-to-peer mentoring project. To learn more about the project, and to apply to be a mentee, click here.
Network Tips
The Network has compiled a list of tips to assist after school programs as they begin a new year of programming. Below you will find a list of resources available for viewing:
- Tips for a Successful New Year, click here
- Tips For Increasing Enrollment in Your After School Program, click here
CASRC Fall Newsletter
The California After School Resource Center (CASRC) has recently made available their Fall 2008 newsletter. The newsletter provides after school programs with tips on connecting with regular school-day staff, resources for starting the new year and creating effective programs, as well as new additions to the CASRC library and available trainings. To view the newsletter and learn more about the resources available from CASRC, click here
CalSAC Provides Free After School Staff Training
The California School Age Consortium (CalSAC) Trainer Network provides free site level training to after school programs. Training topics are organized into modules geared toward after school programs and their staff. All modules are two hours in length. To learn more about the available training topics and the related modules or to request a trainer, click here
Legislative Update
Legislative update on Proposition 49 from the Network Policy Committee
Budget negotiators appear to be planning to insert the Budget Conference Committee language that would put an initiative on the ballot to give the legislature the authority to cut Proposition 49 funds into Assembly Bill 1526.
As a result, it appears that this proposed initiative is likely to be considered as a stand-alone bill, rather than as part of a broader budget "trailer" bill. This is relatively good news because the Governor can veto a stand-alone bill and would not be put in a position where he'd have to agree to put Prop. 49 on the ballot in order to get other reforms/measures he is seeking.
AB 1526 is marked for urgency and not subject to the August 31, 2008 deadline for bill completion. If this moves forward as a stand-alone bill, it likely to be considered as one of several budget trailer bills that the legislature will consider in conjunction with the budget, whenever a budget deal is reached. The language that turns AB 1526 into an after-school bill is not yet in print.
We hope and expect the Governor to veto this bill if it makes it to his desk. We will keep you posted about any potential actions being taken by afterschool advocates as this issue develops.
The Network Policy Committee is following this issue very closely and will inform the field as new information arises.
Network Policy Committee Co-Chairs:
- Jennifer Peck, Executive Director, Bay Area Partnership for Children & Youth
- Brian Lee, Deputy Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California
- Ana Campos, President & Executive Director, After-School All-Stars
SB 1674 (Torlakson) Submitted to the Governor for Signature
The Senate approved the amendments made to Senate Bill 1674 (Torlakson). The bill has been submitted to the Governor for signature.
- To view the text of this bill as it was introduced, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1651-1700/sb_1674_bill_2...
- To view the Assembly Education Committee analysis of this bill, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1651-1700/sb_1674_cfa_20...
To view the text of this bill as it was amended in Assembly on August 8, 2008 visit http://www.afterschoolleague.org/sb_1674_bill_20080808_amended_asm_v95.pdf
Funding Opportunities
H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Partners Excel) Best Practices Competition
The Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) is looking to showcase innovative programs that serve Asian American/Pacific Islander youth. Faith and Community based organizations providing services to Asian American/Pacific Islander youths are encouraged to apply. Winners will be featured at the Wake Up Call! Asian Youth at Risk, Faith and Community Leadership Summit and on the KCCD website. Others awards include $1000 in prize money and a recognition plaque. The application deadline is September 10, 2008. For more information on this funding opportunity, the leadership summit and/or to apply click here.
State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant
Youth Service America with support from the State Farm Companies Foundation is offering youth-led community improvement projects in the United States and Canada (Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick provinces only). Grants are available to support teachers and service-learning coordinators to design service-learning projects for students (ages 5-25). Interested applicants are encouraged to implement semester-long projects to be launched on Martin Luther King Day (January 19, 2009) and extended through Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26, 2009). The application deadline is October 15, 2008. For more information and to apply click here
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors middle and high school students who have engaged in a community volunteer service activity within the past year. Students in grades 5 – 12 are encouraged to apply. Awards are available for both State and National Honorees. The application deadline is October 31, 2008. For more information and to apply, click here.
Call to Action
Coach for America-Building Coaches for Life: Coaching Survey
Coach for America is a concept project interested in supplying after school programs in California with highly qualified part- and full-time coaches. The hope is to extend the project nationwide. To that end, the team is interested in surveying programs across three states to gain a better understanding of the need and interest in the project. This information will then be used to solicit donors and formalize the Coach for America concept as a non-profit program. If you are interested in finding out more about the project or completing the survey, click here.
After School Events
SPARK Training for After School Staff
The River Delta Unified School District is hosting a SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) training for after school staff on Saturday, September 13, 2008. The training will be held at Walnut Grove Elementary School in Walnut Grove. Registration is $100 and lunch will be provided. For more information or to register for the training, click here.
Lights on Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool (LOA), a project of the Afterschool Alliance, is celebrated nationwide to honor the importance of after school programs for America's children, families and communities. This year the 9th annual Lights on Afterschool will be held on October 16, 2008. Last year over one million Americans celebrated Lights on Afterschool at over 7,500 nationwide events. This year, the Empire State Building will be lit up on October 16, 2008 in honor of the event, sending a message that it is important to America’s children and youth to keep the lights on after school. To find out how to participate, locate LOA event ideas, access free resources, and to register your lights on celebration, click here
21st CCLC and ASSETs Grantee Orientations - Registration
Dates have been set and registration is available for the Cohort 5, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grantee Orientation. This 21 Century Community Learning Centers Grantee Orientation is mandatory for all 21st CCLC Elementary and Middle School Grantees starting in 2008-2009 (Cohort 5). Cohort 5 Grantees will receive registration priority, but all 21st CCLC Grantees are welcome.
21st CCLC Cohort 5 Elementary/Middle School Grantee Orientation
November 3, 2008 in Sacramento.
For more information and to register for the Orientation, click hereHigh School ASSETs Grantee Orientation
November 6, 2008 in San Diego
For more information and to register for the High School Orientation, click here
Please plan to register for the 21st CCLC and ASSETs Grantee Orientation.
Job Announcement
The National Conference of State Legislatures Seeks a Senior Policy Specialist for their Education Program
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is seeking a Senior Policy Specialist to manage a large initiative on Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO). The focus of the initiative is to address state policy approaches (such as after school and summer school programs; expanded school day and school year) and to make ELO’s an effective part of the state education system. Applicants should have experience in ELO issues, an understanding of the state legislature policy process as well as the ability to assist the state legislature with complex education policy issues. This position will be located in the Denver Office. The application deadline is September 15, 2008.
To learn more about the NCSL Education Program click here. To view more details and the position description click here.