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The purpose of the California AfterSchool Network is to increase access to high-quality out-of-school time programs that support success for all children and youth.

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News and Events

We are committed to providing you with the resources and tools necessary to build high quality out-of-school time programs in California. Keep up to date with all the latest news and events.

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Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #3

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #3
Fireside Chat: November 27, 2023

Join us for Fireside Chat #57!

In this chat, Heather Williams from the California AfterSchool Network is joined by Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division of the California Department of Education (EXLD). This chat continues a series of chats with 2023 California Expanded Learning Leadership Awardees who were recognized earlier this year during the annual Lights On Afterschool celebration. In this first inspirational chat, we are joined by:

STEAM Newsletter
Robert Houle oil on canvas of a Native American sitting and thinking looking out to the water

STEAM Newsletter – Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
November 2023

November is Native American Heritage Month and is a time to pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans and honor the significant contributions they have made to our society and STEAM. Check out  NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov! This website has resources for teachers, educators, and our communities to learn more about the heritage and history of American Indians.

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Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #2

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #2
Fireside Chat: November 16, 2023

Join us for Fireside Chat #56!

In this chat, Heather Williams from the California AfterSchool Network is joined by Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division of the California Department of Education (EXLD). This chat continues a series of chats with 2023 California Expanded Learning Leadership Awardees who were recognized earlier this year during the annual Lights On Afterschool celebration. In this first inspirational chat, we are joined by:

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Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #1

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #1
Fireside Chat: November 8, 2023

Join us for Fireside Chat #55!

In this chat, Heather Williams from the California AfterSchool Network is joined by Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division of the California Department of Education (EXLD). This chat kicks off a series of chats with 2023 California Expanded Learning Leadership Awardees who were recognized earlier this year during the annual Lights On Afterschool celebration. In this first inspirational chat, we are joined by:

CAN Newsletter
2023 Lights On Afterschool poster

CAN Newsletter – Keeping the Lights On!
October 12, 2023

As we transition to a new season, the Fall weather, and all things Pumpkin Spice, we hope you join us in celebrating the 24th annual Lights On Afterschool on Thursday, October 26, 2023! If you’re new to Out of School Time (OST) and Expanded Learning Programs, this is a day you don’t want to miss!

Health and Wellness Newsletter
Open palms with a flower in between

Health & Wellness Newsletter – Suicide Awareness Month
September 26, 2023

As September comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the significance of Suicide Awareness Month and the impact it has had on our collective understanding of mental health. Suicide affects individuals, families, and communities in profound ways. It’s a complex issue that thrives in silence but dwindles in the presence of understanding, empathy, and open dialogue. Suicide Awareness Month serves as an important reminder of the urgency to break the stigma, offer support, and save lives.

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Cover of California's Expanded Learning Workforce

California’s Expanded Learning Workforce
A State of the State Brief: September 2023

California’s Expanded Learning workforce provides critical opportunities to children and youth grounded in Positive Youth Development and the Science of Learning and Development, supporting their social, emotional, and physical development and well-being.

This State of the State Brief provides a high-level overview of the Expanded Learning workforce in California, the barriers that the field has historically faced, as well as the possibilities to create a thriving workforce.

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Policy Updates & Interview with Fresno USD

Policy Updates & Interview with Fresno USD
Fireside Chat: Sept 14, 2023

Join us for Fireside Chat #54!

In this chat, Heather Williams from the California AfterSchool Network and Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division of the California Department of Education (EXLD), cover a few key policy updates and are joined by special guests from Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) to discuss how they have been leveraging ELO-P dollars to partner with their community, ensuring all of their students have equitable access to high-quality Expanded Learning opportunities:

STEAM Newsletter
Photo of speaker with quote saying "Curiosity is My Super Power"

STEAM Newsletter – Sparking Curiosity in the New School Year!
August 29, 2023

As the summer sun starts to bid us farewell and the leaves begin to change, we are thrilled to join you for another incredible school year that inspires curiosity and creativity! CAN is here to continue to provide STEAM events, professional learning opportunities, activities, and much more. Cheers to enhancing STEAM in Out of School Time (OST) and Expanded Learning Programs throughout our communities and beyond! 

Health and Wellness Newsletter
Photo of 2 girl artists showing off their mural and art projects

Health & Wellness Newsletter – BIPOC Mental Health Month
July 25, 2023

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month. BIPOC Mental Health Month became formally recognized in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US. As we embrace this observance, we recognize the critical role Expanded Learning programs play in supporting the mental well-being of our diverse youth. 

CAN Newsletter
Photo of two hands holding pinkies

CAN Newsletter – Reflecting on Current Events
July 12, 2023

We hope that this July you are finding yourself in the midst of successful summer programs and that you had an enjoyable Fourth of July. As we celebrate America’s independence, we also reflect on the principles of freedom and dissent that were core to its founding. CAN is part of a national network of statewide afterschool networks. As such, we have the unique opportunity to see how policies and social movements impact the out-of-school time community nationwide. 

Our Executive Director, Jeff Davis reflected on this in a recent How Kids Learn publication, Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Afterschool Programs and Opposing Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks

STEAM Newsletter
Collage of famous people in STEAM with disabilities

STEAM Newsletter – Disability Pride Month
July 18, 2023

July is Disability Pride Month! We celebrate those with disabilities and their contributions to STEAM and our communities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Every July we celebrate Disability Pride Month to commemorate the passage of this landmark civil rights law. It’s important to remember that there are numerous types of disabilities such as physical, learning, and neurological disabilities, and they aren’t always visible.

CAN Newsletter

CAN Newsletter – Show up with Pride!
June 14, 2023

Join us in celebrating Pride Month and the end of another school year!

People celebrating and waving a Pride flag in the air California AfterSchool Network stands alongside our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, celebrating their identity and whom they love. Pride Month serves as a beautiful reminder of the invaluable gift that the LGBTQ+ community adds to the diversity of our country, which strengthens us as we pursue equity, justice, and freedom for all. 

STEAM Newsletter
Photo of Emancipation Day celebration held on June 19, 1900

STEAM Newsletter – Celebrating Juneteenth & Pride
June 30, 2023

It’s the beginning of summer! The month held summer solstice, Juneteenth, Pride, and brain awareness month. There is much to celebrate as the school year ends and out-of-school activities move outdoors!

This month we celebrate Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day, also known as Juneteenth. This marks the anniversary of Union troops landing at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War ended and enslaved people were now free.

Health and Wellness Newsletter
A colorful sign with the words "You belong"

Health & Wellness Newsletter – Mental Health Awareness Month
May 23, 2023

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As the arrival of spring brings blooming flowers and joyful moments, it’s crucial to take a moment to focus on our own mental health and well-being. Embracing self-care is not only essential, but also encouraging to witness more people prioritizing their mental health, breaking the stigma, and promoting awareness.