Weekly Media Roundup: January 14, 2026

MiLEAP: $73 Million Awarded to Expand Out-of-School Time Learning Opportunities for Michigan Students, Michigan Business Network (Michigan)

Nearly 300 community organizations, school districts, faith-based nonprofits, public libraries and others will receive $73 million in Out-of-School Time grants from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) this year. “These grants represent a powerful investment in Michigan’s children, families, and communities,” Erin Skene-Pratt, executive director of the Michigan Afterschool Partnership, told Michigan Business Network. “By expanding access to high-quality Out-of-School Time programs, MiLEAP is helping ensure more young people have safe, enriching places to learn, grow, and thrive beyond the school day.” The grants will support organizations across 68 counties offering activities including visual and performing arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) exploration, physical fitness, leadership development, and more.

From Classroom to Community: The Story Behind Riverside Education Centers, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Colorado)

Since 2005, Riverside Education Centers has supported students in Grand Junction, Colorado with tutoring, mentorship, and engaging activities such as biking and outdoor adventures. Former third grade teacher Mary Spirio founded the organization because she noticed students from the Riverside neighborhood had fewer resources outside the classroom than their peers in wealthier communities. The nonprofit has grown from serving a dozen students in its first year to serving more than 1,300 students at 15 sites across Colorado’s Grand Valley now. “I knew nothing about running a nonprofit, but I knew there were dozens of students who needed help,” Spirio told the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. “I’ve seen firsthand that with proper attention, diligence, and community, there is a way to make a difference in the lives of the young people of the Grand Valley.”

Sandhills Community College Invests in On-Site After-School Program to Support Family Wellness, EducationNC (North Carolina)

At Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, North Carolina, students and Sandhills employees have access to an on-campus afterschool program for their children thanks to a partnership between the college and the Boys & Girls Club. “Sandhills is different. You don’t truly understand it until you’re here. You feel the support, the love, and the expectation to put your family first. It’s not just encouraged; it’s expected,” Taylor McCaskill, senior director of Sandhills’ Workforce Strategy and Partnership Innovation, told EducationNC. The afterschool program also provides free evening drop-in services and summer camps.

Fresno Unified students design and create their own merchandise at free winter camp, KFSN (California)

During winter break, 3,000 Fresno Unified school district students in California participated in a variety of week-long educational camps, ranging from graphic design to science, theatre and sports. At the digital illustration, design and screen-printing camp, students created custom tote bags, shirts and hats. "I always want students to have fun learning and to find new innovative ways to build new skills, to discover new interests," Fresno District Director of Expanded Learning Connie Cha told KFSN.