Afterschool Snack

Weekly Media Roundup: February 26, 2025

Discover How the Leaps After School Program is Transforming Lives at Harrison Elementary, News Channel 9 (Tennessee) At Harrison Elementary’s Leaps After School Program in Chattanooga, Tennessee, students are publishing a newspaper focusing on Black historical figures to be displayed...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 02/26/25

Weekly Media Roundup: February 19, 2025

Durham Teens Fight for After-School Program Funding Amid Youth Gun Violence: 'My Safe Space,' ABC 11 (North Carolina) In Durham, North Carolina, teenagers rallied together to urge Durham City Council members to increase funding for afterschool programs, sharing how critical these...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 02/19/25

Weekly Media Roundup: February 12, 2025

'He Invests His Own Money': After School Program Started by Pasco School Employee Still Going Strong, WFTS-TV (Florida) In the 1980s, Eugene Scott founded an afterschool program called This Is How We Do It to provide food, music, dance, mentorship and more to students in his Pasco County...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 02/12/25

Weekly Media Roundup: February 5, 2025

Claysburg-Kimmel Touts New Programs for Students, Altoona Mirror (Pennsylvania) Students at the Bulldog After-School Club in Claysburg, Pennsylvania are participating in new educational activities with a Beam mobile projector that transforms the center into an interactive visual playground. The...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 02/05/25

Weekly Media Roundup: January 29, 2025

Afterschool Program Introduces West Columbia Students to Technology, The Facts (Texas) Students at West Columbia Elementary in Texas are taking part in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities in the new Robocatters afterschool program, which already has a long...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 01/29/25

Weekly Media Roundup: January 22, 2025

Another Year, Another Long Waitlist for BUSD After-School Program, Berkeleyside (California) Due to ongoing staffing shortages, more than 200 students are currently waitlisted for afterschool programs at Berkeley Unified School District. Parents in the district’s PTA Collaborative on...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 01/22/25

Weekly Media Roundup: January 15, 2025

New 4-H Program Will Bring STEAM to Area Students, KNEB (Nebraska) Students in rural Expanding Learning Opportunity programs in Nebraska are exploring aerospace, electronics, engineering, robotics and more thanks to a partnership with 4-H. The Think Make Create Lab is a six-by-12 mobile trailer...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 01/15/25

Weekly Media Roundup: January 8, 2025

Parks and Recreation Secures Grant to Bring Physical Activity Education to Youth in Afterschool Program, WBIW (Indiana) More than 50 students in the Banneker Afterschool program in Bloomington, Indiana are taking part in fun physical activities this year led by Indiana University School of...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 01/08/25

Weekly Media Roundup: December 18, 2024

Mason City YMCA Teaching Social and Emotional Skills to Kids, News-Press Now (Iowa) Students in the Mason City YMCA afterschool program in Iowa practice communication, emotional regulation, empathy and more in twice-weekly social and emotional learning sessions, learning, for instance, to take...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 12/18/24

Weekly Media Roundup: December 11, 2024

Usher Helps Cut Ribbon On New Content Studio at Metro Boys and Girls, WSB-TV (Georgia) This week, superstar Usher visited the Whitehead Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, Georgia, to unveil a new content studio he donated featuring soundboards, mics, computers and other audio equipment. The...

BY: Magen Eissenstat 12/11/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Pi Day is March 14! Professional Development Opportunities Free DNA Science Resources The Future is Bright! From developing cures for cancer to solving the world’s food crisis, genomics is full of meaningful and exciting career opportunities. These roles are critical to...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 02/27/25

It’s time for takeoff! Apply now for the 2025 Flight Crew of STEM NEXT!

By Abigail Darlington, Director of Communications at STEM Next Opportunity Fund. STEM Next Opportunity Fund is looking for afterschool STEM champions to join the 2025 Flight Crew! STEM Next has launched a nationwide search for the next cohort of the Flight Crew— a national youth...

BY: Guest Blogger 02/12/25

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Photo courtesy of Million Girls Moonshot. Happy New Year, everyone! As we move into 2025, we at the Afterschool STEM Hub are gearing up to engage with the new Presidential Administration and the 119th Congress to continue advancing afterschool STEM. Our complex and changing world demands both...

BY: Leslie Brooks 01/30/25

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi 01/23/25

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Photo: Nicolette Buonora and Lauren Strechay with their invention, Battery Swap. By Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist at The Henry Ford. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

BY: Guest Blogger 01/13/25

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative...

BY: Leslie Brooks 12/18/24

Final Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review of 2024 - A focus on youth-led community impact

As 2024 comes to a close, we are delighted to share the winter edition of the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review (ASQRR) with you! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool, summer, and out-of-school time science, technology,...

BY: Leslie Brooks 12/16/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 12/02/24

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Photo courtesy of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance By Hannah Lakin, ACRES coach at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Without clear pathways into STEM careers, many young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—are missing out on opportunities...

BY: Guest Blogger 11/26/24

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

By Leah Boveda, Development and Comunications Intern at trubel&co. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger 11/19/24

Executive Order establishes “Make America Healthy Again Commission”

On February 13, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order (EO) that directs federal government agencies to enact policies to aggressively combat the critical health challenges of Americans, including rising rates of mental health disorders, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases....

BY: Erik Peterson 02/24/25

Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon testifies in front of Senate HELP Committee

On February 13, nominee for Secretary of Education Ms. Linda McMahon testified in front of the Senate HELP Committee, answering an array of questions from Senators. Ms. McMahon repeatedly stated her support for public education as well as parent choice, and responded several times that it is...

BY: Erik Peterson 02/14/25

Executive Order on transgender participation in sports

On February 5, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order that “rescinds all funds from educational programs” that allow participants girls who identify as transgender to take part in women/girls sports activities. The order directs all executive departments and agencies to...

BY: Leah Silverberg 02/13/25

New polling shows voters value afterschool

Are afterschool programs an absolute necessity for communities? Should newly elected leaders provide more funding for afterschool programs? Are afterschool programs keeping kids safe, supporting academic and social growth, and helping young people gain foundational skills, like teamwork and...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro 02/11/25

Reconciliation: A tax bill with key implications for families today and tomorrow

A major priority for the new Congress and Administration is tax legislation, which could be on the agenda soon in the form of a reconciliation bill – a special type of bill that requires only 50 votes in the Senate to pass[1]. Reconciliation bills can only be used for changes in mandatory...

BY: Jillian Luchner 02/10/25

Newly introduced legislation would support mentoring in and out of school

As National Mentoring Month ended in late January, several bills were reintroduced to support mentoring activities: A Transition to Success Mentoring Act, Mentoring to Succeed Act, and the Students Helping Younger Students Act. All three bills currently have only Democratic support. Service...

BY: Erik Peterson 02/05/25

The Impact of the Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families Executive Order on afterschool and summer learning programs

This week several additional Executive Orders were announced by the Trump Administration in addition to the Orders put in place last week. Two new Orders, on Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families (January 29) and Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling (January 29)could...

BY: Erik Peterson 01/31/25

New Executive Orders could impact afterschool and summer learning programs

Photo by Edoardo Cuoghi on Unsplash. After being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, President Trump issued several Executive Orders on a wide range of issues, including several that impact federal agencies and regulatory processes. Below, we touch on a number of...

BY: Erik Peterson 01/29/25

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

Photo by Samuel Schroth on Unsplash. While the 119th Congress has officially begun, the landscape is still shaking out in terms of priorities for the new House and Senate education committees. At least one, if not two, budget reconciliation bills are taking shape, extending tax credits and...

BY: Erik Peterson 01/29/25

OMB temporarily pauses federal agency grants, loans, and assistance

Update: February 10, 2025: Today the federal judge in the case brought by Attorney Generals in 22 states and the District of Columbia found that the Trump administration has not fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending and told the White House to release all funds from grants. U.S....

BY: Erik Peterson 01/28/25

Executive Order establishes “Make America Healthy Again Commission”

BY: Erik Peterson 02/24/25

Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon testifies in front of Senate HELP Committee

BY: Erik Peterson 02/14/25

Reconciliation: A tax bill with key implications for families today and tomorrow

BY: Jillian Luchner 02/10/25

Newly introduced legislation would support mentoring in and out of school

BY: Erik Peterson 02/05/25

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

BY: Erik Peterson 01/29/25

Appropriations Update: Continuing Resolution to fund the government through March 2025

Update: Dec. 21, 2024. After a hectic week that included a carefully negotiated deal falling apart, and then another possible continuing resolution (CR) falling apart, the House and Senate both passed a new CR late into the hours of this morning by bipartisan votes, avoiding a government shutdown....

BY: Erik Peterson 12/19/24

Practice and policy recommendations featured during UnidosUS and BGCA Hill briefing

On Tuesday, December 3, UnidosUS and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America hosted a Hill briefing titled Out-of-School Time Learning: Practice to Policy. UnidosUS published a brief of the same name in October 2024. Brian Ortega of UnidosUS began the morning by explaining the origins of the...

BY: Jillian Luchner 12/10/24

Election 2024 results: What may be next for afterschool

As the dust settles from Election Day 2024, the results have various possible implications for public support of afterschool and summer learning programs at the federal, state and local levels. Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant wrote on our blog on Nov. 6, “We will continue...

BY: Erik Peterson 11/13/24

Several new bills introduced that would support afterschool and summer learning opportunities

While Congress is on recess this month leading up to the election in early November, three new bills were introduced over the past few months that could increase access to quality afterschool or summer learning programs. The focus of the bills range from providing support to AmeriCorps...

BY: Erik Peterson 10/29/24

Bipartisan Summer Meals Act reintroduced in the House of Representatives

The bipartisan Summer Meals Act (H.R. 9406) was reintroduced in the House in late August by Reps. Larsen (D-Wash.), Smith (R-N.J.), and Peltola (D-Alaska) and would reform and expand the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to increase access to the federal initiative that funds meals served by...

BY: Erik Peterson 10/28/24

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

BY: Erik Peterson 01/29/25

Election 2024 results: What may be next for afterschool

BY: Erik Peterson 11/13/24

The latest research on the impact of afterschool and summer programs

A 2023 U.S. Department of Education report on 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) programs nationally found that nearly half of participating students who were chronically absent the previous year improved their school-day attendance in the current school year, while a meta-analysis...

BY: Nikki Yamashiro 09/30/24

21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance finalized, includes updated information on parent fees

On September 3, the U.S. Department of Education published its final Non-Regulatory Guidance for the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program. This guidance officially replaces the last edition of guidance published in 2003. The guidance aligns with the updated legislative...

BY: Erik Peterson 09/06/24

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

The Senate Appropriations Committee released and marked up their Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill on August 1, 2024. The bill proposes $231.34 billion in base discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2025, and the Committee approved the bill along...

BY: Erik Peterson 08/02/24

Senate Finance Committee examines the State of Child Care

On July 9, 2024, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing titled "Examining the State of Child Care: How Federal Policy Solutions Can Support Families, Close Existing Gaps, and Strengthen Economic Growth." This hearing addressed the urgent child care crisis in the United States. The...

BY: Jamaiya Nowling 07/25/24

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process

This week, both the House and Senate made progress on the FY 2025 appropriations cycle. The House Appropriations Committee continued to approve bills sent to them by the 12 spending subcommittees, while the Senate got its process started by deciding topline figures. House Committee acts on...

BY: Erik Peterson 07/12/24

Key House subcommittee makes deep cuts to education spending in FY 25

On June 27, the House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2025 spending bill. Overall, the FY 2025 Labor-Health and Humans Services-Education bill (Labor-H) provides $68.1 billion for Department...

BY: Erik Peterson 06/27/24

5 highlights from the Afterschool for All Challenge 2024

This week, 200 advocates from across the country — including nine of our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors — came to Washington, D.C., as part of the Afterschool for All Challenge. On June 11, supporters attended meetings on Capitol Hill to urge their elected officials to support increased...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 06/13/24

It's the Afterschool for All Challenge! Join us on June 11

The Afterschool for All Challenge is back for 2024! Join us starting Tuesday, June 11, as we head to Capitol Hill to encourage Congress to make sustained investments in afterschool and summer programs. We know that afterschool and summer programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn,...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 06/07/24

Celebrating Lights On Afterschool with SHADES of Development in Knoxville, Tennessee

I spent Lights On Afterschool in Knoxville, Tennessee, with SHADES of Development! We kicked off the day at a Grab and Go breakfast hosted by United Way and sponsored by the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB). This was the first year SHADES partnered with KUB for Lights On (KUB reached out, seeing it...

BY: Lucy Maddox 11/12/24

Celebrating Lights On Afterschool in North Carolina — with Usher!

In honor of Lights On Afterschool, I had the opportunity to celebrate by attending a two-day event hosted by Usher and Usher’s New Look Foundation in Charlotte, N.C. Usher and his foundation, Usher’s New Look, created a social impact tour where afterschool programs in selected tour...

BY: Tiyana Glenn 10/31/24

Top 10 highlights from Lights On Afterschool 2024

Yesterday, the 25th annual Lights On Afterschool was celebrated by afterschool programs and supporters nationwide. From Alaska to Florida, afterschool programs were hosting student art displays, STEM festivals, traditional cooking classes, scavenger hunts, student officer elections, and much...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 10/25/24

Join the Lights On Afterschool Lightbulb Challenge!

Photo courtesy of BOOST Collaborative. The 2024 celebration of Lights On Afterschool is next week! Still, it’s not too late to get involved and show your support for afterschool programs across the country. Even if you aren’t hosting your own event this year, there are still plenty...

BY: Lucy Maddox 10/17/24

Celebrate Lights On Afterschool with these last-minute ideas

The time has come: we are officially two weeks out from Lights On Afterschool day! Did you think it was too late to join in the celebration? Well, think again! Whether you want to partake in the Lightbulb Challenge or light up a local landmark, here are some ways to get involved in Lights On...

BY: Lucy Maddox 10/10/24

Passing the microphone: Ways to amplify youth voice during Lights On Afterschool

Lights On Afterschool is the perfect time to pass the microphone to the young people in your community and let them share their thoughts and experiences with a larger audience. From the planning to the execution, youth can be involved in all aspects of your Lights On event. There are plenty of...

BY: Lucy Maddox 10/03/24

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Annia Quiroz, Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. Looking for a great way to engage kids in STEM during this year’s Lights On Afterschool? The National 4-H Council's 2024 4-H STEM Challenge, Food for Thought, might be the kit for you and your participants. STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger 09/27/24

Transform your afterschool program into a fun-filled carnival for Lights On

For the sheer variety of activities, there’s nothing like a carnival to showcase all the ways your program supports kids and families in your community. Attendees of your celebration have numerous opportunities to explore everything on offer through booths or stations with different games,...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/19/24

Make math magic

By Laurie Posner for Mizzen Education. Just in time for fall and Lights On Afterschool, Mizzen Education and Learn Fresh have teamed up to bring you exhilarating, free content specially designed for afterschool programs to help build math skills. The fun begins with NBA Math Hoops! Invented...

BY: Guest Blogger 09/18/24

Shine a spotlight on your students during Lights On Afterschool

Put the young people in your afterschool program center stage during your Lights On Afterschool celebration. Hosting a talent showcase is a great way to get students excited about participating in your event and to encourage families to come to the party and see what their children are doing...

BY: Lucy Maddox 09/12/24

New report from Learning Policy Institute examines how states are expanding summer learning opportunities

The summer months offer a critical opportunity to support students’ academic growth, social development, and mental well-being, while supporting families by providing safe and supportive environment for children while parents are often at work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal...

BY: Chris Neitzey 02/20/25

It’s time for takeoff! Apply now for the 2025 Flight Crew of STEM NEXT!

BY: Guest Blogger 02/12/25

Summer Snapshot report series highlights key models for summer learning success

Summer gives young people the opportunity to catch up on school credits and prepare for the school year ahead. But is there a better and more engaging way? School districts are starting to rethink how students recover school credits during the summer. The Summer Snapshot series, conducted by the...

BY: Maria Rizo 01/02/25

Practice and policy recommendations featured during UnidosUS and BGCA Hill briefing

BY: Jillian Luchner 12/10/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

BY: Charlotte Steinecke 12/02/24

Newly introduced legislation would expand opportunities for community service in Federal Work-Study programs

U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT) recently introduced the Students Working for Communities Act to foster and expand student opportunities to participate in community service under the Federal Work-Study Program. The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides students with work...

BY: Jillian Luchner 10/04/24

Celebrate Lights On with the 4-H STEM Challenge

BY: Guest Blogger 09/27/24

Make math magic

BY: Guest Blogger 09/18/24

New tools for OST programs from National League of Cities

Municipal leaders play an important role in supporting and funding local afterschool and summer learning programs, and to help support them the National League of Cities has a new resource page on Afterschool and Summer Learning at the city level geared towards city leaders. The page includes a...

BY: Erik Peterson 08/27/24

Afterschool intermediaries shown to expand supports for youth

New research shows that the organizations dedicated to supporting and advocating for afterschool and summer programs – known as intermediaries – made substantial contributions in helping communities during the pandemic and addressing the inequities made worse by the health...

BY: Ursula Helminski 08/09/24

Archives:

Afterschool is making America healthier

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Afterschool is making America healthier

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RECENT AFTERSCHOOL SNACKS

News Roundup

STEM

Policy

Policy

FEATURED FOR Jul 4, 2025

In the Field

Entrepreneurship education creates OST champions

Advocacy

Use the afterschool STEM Talking Points in your messages to policymakers

In the Field

What if every business created opportunity for kids in afterschool?

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: June 25, 2025

In the Field

America’s working parents and their children need afterschool programs

research

New program spotlights: How two afterschool programs are keeping students physically active through supportive relationships

Advocacy

Amplify youth voices in advocacy — Media is Your Megaphone shows you how.

research

Key principles at the heart of quality expanded learning programs

News Roundup

Weekly Media Roundup: June 18, 2025

Policy

Details of cuts to informal STEM education at the National Science Foundation

Policy

Appropriations, rescissions, and reconciliation: An update

Weekly Media Roundup: February 26, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: February 19, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: February 12, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: February 5, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: January 29, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: January 22, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: January 15, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: January 8, 2025

Weekly Media Roundup: December 18, 2024

Weekly Media Roundup: December 11, 2024

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

It’s time for takeoff! Apply now for the 2025 Flight Crew of STEM NEXT!

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

Final Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review of 2024 - A focus on youth-led community impact

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

Executive Order establishes “Make America Healthy Again Commission”

Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon testifies in front of Senate HELP Committee

Executive Order on transgender participation in sports

New polling shows voters value afterschool

Reconciliation: A tax bill with key implications for families today and tomorrow

Newly introduced legislation would support mentoring in and out of school

The Impact of the Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families Executive Order on afterschool and summer learning programs

New Executive Orders could impact afterschool and summer learning programs

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

OMB temporarily pauses federal agency grants, loans, and assistance

Executive Order establishes “Make America Healthy Again Commission”

Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon testifies in front of Senate HELP Committee

Reconciliation: A tax bill with key implications for families today and tomorrow

Newly introduced legislation would support mentoring in and out of school

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

Appropriations Update: Continuing Resolution to fund the government through March 2025

Practice and policy recommendations featured during UnidosUS and BGCA Hill briefing

Election 2024 results: What may be next for afterschool

Several new bills introduced that would support afterschool and summer learning opportunities

Bipartisan Summer Meals Act reintroduced in the House of Representatives

Federal Budget Appropriations Update: Looking ahead at 2025

Election 2024 results: What may be next for afterschool

The latest research on the impact of afterschool and summer programs

21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance finalized, includes updated information on parent fees

Senate appropriators propose level funding for 21st CCLC in FY 2025

Senate Finance Committee examines the State of Child Care

Appropriations update: House Committee passes FY 2025 Education Spending Bill, Senate starts process