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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.
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.
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 – 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.
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:
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 – Leading with Love & Gratitude
November 14, 2023
Love & Gratitude – As many lives, including children and youth, are impacted by war and violence in many parts of this world, we pause and lean into love and compassion for others.
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 & 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.
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.
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:
CAN Newsletter – Connect. Convene. Inspire.
September 13, 2023
As a Vehicle for Advocacy and a Conduit for Communications, CAN is excited to kick off a new year with high-quality, engaging, and energetic learning opportunities to connect and advance Out-of-School Time (OST) and Expanded Learning (EXL) Programs.
STEAM Newsletter – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
September 19, 2023
Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place from September 15th to October 15th every year to recognize and celebrate diverse cultures and extensive histories of the Hispanic community and honor the significant contributions they have made to our society and STEAM!
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!
CAN Newsletter – Kicking off a New School Year!
August 10, 2023
For most of our communities, schools and programs are starting the 2023-24 school year! We hope all educators, children, youth, and families have a fun and positive year of learning, kindness, engagement, supporting, celebrating, and growing!
Update on ELO-P & Licensing Requirements
Fireside Chat: July 31, 2023
Join us for our Fireside Chat #53!
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), are joined by special guests to clarify Licensing Requirements about ELO-P and promising practices between Districts and their partners:
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 – 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 – 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 – Show up with Pride!
June 14, 2023
Join us in celebrating Pride Month and the end of another school year!
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 – 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 & 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.
