Fireside Chats

Overview

Fireside Chats

Campfire with three speech bubbles over it

The California AfterSchool Network hosts interviews with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division, to better help the field navigate the current state of Expanded Learning, including what guidance means for your programs. These chats include policy updates as well as interviews with partners elevating current topics and promising practices.

If you are interested in developing your own virtual fireside chats check out our post: Communicating During Crisis – Video “Fireside Chats”

Post

Interview with Healdsburg USD and Healdsburg Community Services Dept
Fireside Chat: May 6, 2020

Interview with Healdsburg USD and Healdsburg Community Services Dept

The California AfterSchool Network is hosting near-weekly interviews with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

In this sixth interview, we are joined by Healdsburg Unified School District and their CBO partner – the City’s Community Services Department. They share what they have been doing to respond to COVID in the immediate, and also how they are partnering around plans for reopening schools in the Fall.

Interviewees include:

  • Erin Fender, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Healdsburg USD
  • Mark Themig, Community Services Director, City of Healdsburg Community Services Dept
  • Dave Jahns, Recreation Manager, City of Healdsburg Community Services Dept
  • Grace Guerrero, Afterschool Program Director, City of Healdsburg
Post

Interview with Marcus Strother & Malik Ibarra from SCUSD
Fireside Chat: April 29, 2020

Interview with Marcus Strother & Malik Ibarra from SCUSD

The California AfterSchool Network is hosting near weekly interview with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

In this fifth interview, we are joined by Marcus Strother, the Director of Youth Development from Saacramento City Unified School District, and one of his students Malik Ibarra a senior at West Campus. This conversation focuses on what is happening at a district level, how districts in partnership with their community organizations can continue to serve our youth and communities, and what some of our students are experiencing during this time.

Post

Interview with Michael Funk on Grant Extensions
Fireside Chat: April 27, 2020

Interview with Michael Funk on Grant Extensions

The California AfterSchool Network is hosting near weekly interview with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

This fourth interview provides a quick update on the status of extending Expanded Learning grants. The California Department of Education will be extending all ASES, 21st CCLC, and ASSESTs grants by six months. Instead of ending on June 30, the closeout date for the grants will be December 31, 2020. This also includes ASES Frontier Transportation grants and the grants that support the System of Support for Expanded Learning. Check out the video for more information and the EXLD Guidance on Extending Expanded Learning Grants and Attendance and Expenditure Reporting

Post

Interview with Teresa Ayon of Anaheim Family YMCA
Fireside Chat: April 23, 2020

Interview with Teresa Ayon of Anaheim Family YMCA

The California AfterSchool Network is hosting near weekly interview with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

This third interview mostly focuses on a conversation with Teresa Ayon from the Anaheim Family YMCA, digging into what our program providers are doing to continue to serve our communities during the COVID-19 crisis, including keeping workers employed and staying connected to the field.

Post

Interview with Michael Funk on Governor’s Executive Order and EXLD Guidance Memo
Fireside Chat: April 13, 2020

Interview with Michael Funk on Governor’s Executive Order and EXLD Guidance Memo

The California AfterSchool Network is hosting a weekly interview with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

This second interview primarily covers the Governors Executive Order that was released on April 4, 2020 and the subsequent guidance from the Expanded Learning Division that was released on April 10, 2020.

Post

CAN Interview with Michael Funk on CDE Expanded Learning Division COVID-19 Guidance
Fireside Chat: April 1, 2020

CAN Interview with Michael Funk on CDE Expanded Learning Division COVID-19 Guidance

The California AfterSchool Network will be hosting a weekly interview with Michael Funk, Division Director for the California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division.

This first interview covers recent questions in response to guidance sent out from the Division on March 13 and March 27, 2020. If you have questions for future interviews please email the CAN team.

Pod
CA FY 2024-25 Budget Updates & Impacts on Expanded Learning

CA FY 2024-25 Budget Updates & Impacts on Expanded Learning
Fireside Chat: July 12, 2024

Join us for the 62nd Fireside Chat!

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). They provide updates on the recently adopted FY 24-25 budget including the K-12 Education Trailer Bill and their impacts on Expanded Learning, as well as Legislative Updates related to Expanded Learning.

Resources

Pod
Policy Updates and Conversation with Vallejo Expanded Learning & Lead by Learning

Policy Updates and Conversation with Vallejo Expanded Learning & Lead by Learning
Fireside Chat: May 30, 2024

Join us for the 61st Fireside Chat!

 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). They provide updates on the Governor’s recently released May Revision of the budget for FY 24-25, and chat with Vallejo Expanded Learning and one of their partners Lead by Learning to learn more about their culture of supporting adult learners and building high-quality programs. Guests include:

Pod
Budget Updates & Highlighting Partnerships to Support Expanded Learning

Budget Updates & Highlighting Partnerships to Support Expanded Learning
Fireside Chat: January 23, 2024

Join us for Fireside Chat #59!

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).

They provide updates on the Governor’s recently released, proposed budget for FY 24-25, and chat with district leaders across the state and one of their partners that support them to provide unique, high-quality opportunities for students, including:

Pod
Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #4

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #4
Fireside Chat: December 5, 2023

Join us for Fireside Chat #58!

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 wraps up a series of chats with the 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:

Pod
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:

Pod
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:

Pod
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:

Pod
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:

Pod
Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #3

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #3
Fireside Chat: December 13, 2022

Join us for Fireside Chat #49!

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 California Expanded Learning Leadership Awardees who were recognized earlier this year during the annual Lights On Afterschool celebration. In this inspirational chat we are joined by:

Pod
Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #2

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #2
Fireside Chat: December 6, 2022

Join us for Fireside Chat #48!

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 California Expanded Learning Leadership Awardees who were recognized earlier this year during the annual Lights On Afterschool celebration. In this inspirational chat we are joined by:

Pod
Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #1

Interview with CA EXL Leadership Awardees #1
Fireside Chat: November 29, 2022

Join us for Fireside Chat #47!

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 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:

Pod
ELO-P Interview with Region 1, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin

ELO-P Interview with Region 1, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin
Fireside Chat: July 25, 2022

Join us for our 44th Fireside Chat!

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) and two special guests from Region 1:

  • Melea Meyer, Region 1 STEAM Hub/ SSEL County Lead, Continuous Improvement: Innovation and Development
  • Michelle Edwards-Heery, Executive Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin

This chat includes a quick update on the ELO-P apportionment rates for fiscal year 2022-23. We also dive into what LEA and CBO (community based organization) partnership can look like to support ELO-P implementation in a wide range of settings.

Pod
Budget is Signed! and Other Leg Updates

Budget is Signed! and Other Leg Updates
Fireside Chat: July 1, 2022

Join us for our 43rd Fireside Chat! 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),.

The 22-23 budget has been signed! Hear the latest on what it means for the Expanded Learning in California. We also cover the latest on two pieces of legislation related to our Expanded Learning programs.

Access Budget and Legislation Information referenced below: