Network News - June 29, 2009
In This Issue:
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After School and Summer Events
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Network News
Step Up High School Summit Workshops Announced!
Program administrators, high school after school practitioners and high school principals are encouraged to attend The Step Up High School Summit. The conference will feature engaging workshops and presentations focusing on successful strategies for high school after school programs. The conference will also provide opportunities for high school practitioners to network and share resources and successful practices. This conference will take place November 3-5, 2009 in San Diego CA. Many of the workshop offerings have recently been posted on the Network website. For more information, to register, and to view workshop and keynote offerings, go to http://www.afterschoolnetwork.org/step-up
After School Policy
California Policy
California's Budget Conference Committee's Latest Proposed Budget Would Eliminate the Latchkey Program
The latest Budget Conference Committee proposal recommends the elimination the Extended Day Care (Latchkey) program. The Latchkey program provides year-round before and after school child care to school-age children from low-income working families. The recent proposal would eliminate the Latchkey program, but retains funding for Latchkey services from July 1 until the start of school to ensure no children are immediately displaced, and adopts language to ensure that children receive priority placement in other subsidized programs. The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) originally proposed the elimination of the Latchkey program claiming that the Latchkey program is duplicative with the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, an argument disputed by after school advocates.
To view the recent Budget Conference Committees proposed budget, click here
To offer input regarding this proposal to your legislators, click here.
CA After School Legislation Update
There are currently two bills pertaining to after school moving through the State Legislature.
AB 434 (Block) would codify that site coordinators who spend at least 85% of their time on site are counted as direct service and their time is considered part of the 85% of after school funding that must be used for direct services. This bill has passed the Assembly and will be heard by the Senate Education Committee in early July. To read this bill and view its current status, click here.
AB 983 (Skinner) would make clear that ASES and 21st CCLC grantees have the ability to use their base grants to operate activities on the weekend. This bill has passed the Assembly and will be heard by the Senate Education Committee in early July. To read this bill, view its current status, and offer input to your senators regarding this bill, click here
Federal Legislative Update
Two bills pertaining to After School are currently moving through the United States Senate.
After School Meals Act of 2009 Proposes to Expand School Meals Act
Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) recently introduced S. 990; the "After school Flexibility to Expand Reimbursement for School Meals Act of 2009" (also known as the "After School Meals Act of 2009"). This bill authorizes a nationwide expansion of the After school Meal Program, allowing children from all states to benefit from a nutritious meal after school. Under current law, only ten states can operate this program. It gives schools the option of operating suppers through the School Lunch/Breakfast Programs or through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), easing program administration for some schools. It also authorizes grants to states to encourage schools and institutions to participate.
To read the text of this bill as it was introduced on May 6, 2009 click here.
To locate your Federal Senators and offer comment on this bill, click here.
Federal Investment in AfterSchool Act Proposes to Assist Rural Program
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) recently introduced "the Investment in Afterschool Programs Act" (S. 1281). This bill to enhance after-school programs in rural areas of the United States by establishing a pilot program to help communities establish and improve rural after-school programs. The bill proposes to make grants to rural after school programs for transportation, professional development, strategic planning, and other activities.
To read the text and status of this bill, click here.
To locate your Federal Senator and offer comment on this bill, click here
Federal Policy Information
United We Serve - The Summer of Service and National Day of Service
The Obama Administration recently launched the United We Serve initiative.
This initiative intends to usher in a new era of volunteerism and service to address community needs in education, health care, energy independence, economic renewal, and other issues. The initiative, which will be led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, officially kicked off on June 22 with the launching of the Summer of Service and runs for 81 days through a new the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. To support these initiatives the Administration has launched www.serve.gov. This website contains a toolkit to launch service projects and the ability to locate service and volunteering and service opportunities by topic and geographical area. Fore more information go to www.serve.gov
After School Opportunities in the Federal 2010 Budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Fiscal Year 2010 (FY 2010) Federal Budget present many increased opportunities for out of school time programs. The California Afterschool Network is committed to keep Network participants connected to current information as new State and Federal opportunities for out of school time programs rapidly arise. To view a summary of some current opportunities in the ARRA and the FY 2010 budget, click here.
Funding Opportunities
CA Dept of Education Funding
Funding Name: After School Education and Safety Renewal
Eligible Applicants: local educational agencies, other organizations or agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria: ASES programs eligible for renewal must be currently funded and operating an after school program.
Funding Description: The provisions of California <i> Education Code</i> Section 8483.7(a)(1) state schools that establish an After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program are eligible to receive a three-year direct grant that shall be awarded in three one-year increments once every three years as part of the renewal process. Once the CDE approves grant awards for renewals, the grant period will be July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013.
Due Date: November 20, 2009
View at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/profile.asp?id=1613
2010 Global Youth Service Day Lead Agency Grant
Lead Agencies are organizations across the United States that increase the scope, visibility, and sustainability of Global Youth Service Day by leading city, regional, or statewide service projects. Past Lead Agencies have been successful in garnering national media attention, developing new partnerships, and engaging elected and public officials in their service and service-learning projects. Lead Agencies receive a $2,000 GYSD planning grant sponsored by State Farm Companies Foundation, travel support to attend the Youth Service Institute in Washington, DC, and direct assistance from Youth Service America to ensure a successful Global Youth Service Day. The Application deadline is July 17, 2009. For more information and to apply, click here.
Rudie Memorial Youth Foundation Evaluation Grants
Non-profit organizations in San Francisco and Los Angeles are eligible to apply for Ruddie Memorial Youth Foundation Evaluation Grants. The purpose of Evaluation Grants is to identify innovative effective methods that provide youth (birth to 25 years of age) with new opportunities for health, personal growth, and success. Successful grantees will be encouraged to apply for the foundation's Replication or Dissemination Grants Programs. The deadline to apply for Ruddie Memorial Youth Foundation Evaluation Grants is July 31, 2009. For more information and to apply, click here.
Do Something Grants for Youth Projects
Youth under the age of 25 years of age in the United States and Canada who want to create a community action project, or further the success of an existing program are eligible to apply for DoSomething.org Do Something Grants. One grant of $500.00 will be awarded each week in 2009. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and stay active for consideration for two months after submission. For more information and to submit an online application, click here
Captain Planet Grants
The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental projects for children and youth. They will fund as many projects as its annual resources allow. In order to be considered for funding, proposals must: focus on hands-on involvement, and include children and young adults ages 6-18 (elementary to high school) with adult supervision. There are multiple Deadline Dates for Captain Planet Grant submissiuon. Upcoming submission dates are September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2009. For more information and toapply, click here
Verizon Foundation Education and Health Grants
Non-profit organizations, schools (elementary or secondary) and government-funded programs are eligible to apply for funding from the Verizon Foundation. Grants are awarded to advance literacy and educational achievement, promote health and safety, and prevent domestic violence. The foundation reviews unsolicited proposals annually from January 1st to October 31st. Funding decisions are made within 90 days of the grant application. For more information and to apply, click here.
Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
Nonprofit organizations with 501 (c) (3) status and public agencies operating in communities where Lowe's stores and distribution centers are located are eligible to apply. Grant funds are available for community improvement projects. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000. Application awards are ongoing. To apply organizations will need to take an eligibility test. For more information and to apply, click here
Fender Music Foundation Grants
The Fender Music Foundation accepts electronic grant applications throughout the year from 501(c)3 or governmental organizations. Qualifying applicants are established, ongoing and sustainable music programs in the United States, which provide music instruction for people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music. Almost all of the awarded grants are for in-school music classes, in which the students make music, after school music programs that are not run by the school, and music therapy programs, in which the participants make the music. For more information and to apply, click here.
After School and Summer Events
LA Middle School Institute
Registration is currently available for the Los Angeles County Office of Education's Middle School Institute (MSI). MSI is a two-day, comprehensive practitioner-based training for middle school after school program staff. This training will feature hands on workshops focusing on specific skill sets. MSI will feature two training strands; one strand for middle school site coordinators, and another strand for front line program staff. This event will take place on August 4, 2009, in Lennox CA. Registration closes July 17, 2009. For more information and to register, click here.
Region 1 and 4 Summer Institute - Building Fabulous After School Programs
After School program teams consisting of Program Directors, Site Coordinators, and Youth Workers are encouraged to attend this three day summer institute. Workshops will focus on program quality and design, building your after school program team, communication and collaboration, as well as marketing and promotion. Mulitiple strands are available for diverse professionals and interests. Register for all three days for $100, utilize one or two day registration options, or register four staff and get the fifth participant free. This Summer Institute will take place August 4 - 6, 2009, in Santa Rosa CA. For more information and to register click here
Partnership in Action: Learning through Service
K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Afterschool Program Leaders/Reading Tutors, and others interested in Service-Learning are encouraged to attend this event. This event will feature Author of The Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Kids Guide Tiffany Tillman as well as Senator Gloria Romero from the Senate Committee on Education. The event will also contain workshops and presentations on Quality Service Learning Strategies, K-12 Curriculum links to service learning, as well as after school service clubs. This event will take place Monday August 10, 2009 at Carpinteria High School in Carpinteria CA. For more information and to register, click here
After School Resources
California Tomorrow Equity and Diversity Toolkit
Developed in partnership with after school providers, this Toolkit provides after school and youth programs with a wide range of resources for addressing equity and diversity in their work. It includes, easy-to-use activities for personal reflection, staff dialogue, program assessment, and organizational change. Suitable for use by small or large programs, trainers, technical assistance providers, and others interested in helping youth of all backgrounds and experiences thrive. To learn more and download this toolkit, click here.
Aligning After School Programs with Content Standards and Youth Development Principles
The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center (SNBC) recently released The Best of Both Worlds: Aligning Afterschool Programs with Youth Development Principles and Academic Standards to contribute to the growing body of work that is deepening the quality of afterschool programming. This guide documents SNBC’s application of California Department of Education content standards to innovative, project-based learning clubs. In so doing, this publication also demonstrates that youth development principles and standards-based education can coexist. To view and download this document, click here.
After School Research
Secrets of successful after school programs: What research reveals
In the past ten years, participation in after school programs has grown steadily, accompanied by substantial increases in investment. In parallel, a decade of evaluation studies provide a basis on which to assess the educational potential of after school programs and identify promising practices. A new research brief from the Harvard Family Research Project reviews this research and highlights implications for the future of the after school field. To view this brief, click here.
Implementing High-Quality Youth Programs
Child Trends recently released three research briefs that present research findings and effective strategies to implement high-quality out-of-school time programs. The titles of the three briefs are How Program Administrators Can Support Out-Of-School Time Staff, Building Systems-Level Partnerships, and Data-Driven Decision Making in Out-Of-School Time Programs. These briefs complete a six-part series on the drivers for implementing evidence-based practices in out-of-school time programs. To access these briefs and multiple other Child Trends research studies, click here.