Snacks by Erik Peterson
MAR
15
IN THE FIELD
By Erik Peterson
On March 14, Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui announced a plan to develop a new statewide initiative to enhance the learning experience of intermediate and middle school students during the afterschool hours. According to the lieutenant governor’s office, the Hawaii Intermediate/Middle School Challenge will provide a comprehensive social and educational foundation that will enrich the lives of intermediate/middle school students throughout Hawaii through a broad base of programs and activities, outside of regular instructional hours. The program seeks to include academic enrichment, arts and culture, and sports and will be designed to help prepare students for high school, college, the workforce and their communities.
The new initiative addresses the need to keep young people safe and engaged during the hours immediately following school. Afterschool programs are shown to increase or improve school attendance, behavior and coursework—all key indicators in whether a middle school student will graduate. Furthermore, studies show that crimes committed by or against juveniles occur with greater frequency on schools days and roughly between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m.
The Hawaii Intermediate/Middle School Challenge was inspired by After-School All-Stars Hawaii, a comprehensive, high quality afterschool program for middle school students that provides free, engaging afterschool programming that helps young people succeed in school and in life. The program serves middle school youth ages 12-15 during the afterschool hours of 3 to 6 p.m. at eight middle schools on Oahu. Students from After-School All-Stars joined the lieutenant governor for the announcement.
According to the lieutenant governor’s office, effective and positive afterschool programs provide not only an educational benefit to students but also a social value to the overall community by reducing juvenile crime. Hawaii has long focused on providing afterschool programs to elementary and high school students, however successful programs for intermediate/middle school students are sporadic and decentralized. Last October the Department of Education introduced the Intermediate Athletics Pilot program, to be piloted in the Zones of School Innovation (ZSI) in the Nanakuli-Waianae complex and the Kau-Keaau-Pahoa complex on Hawaii Island. The new Hawaii Intermediate/Middle School Challenge initiative adds a comprehensive program for intermediate/middle schools with the support and guidance to implement effective and positive afterschool programs statewide. The announcement pointed to strong school-community partnerships as an important part of the initiative going forward.
The Hawaii Intermediate/Middle School Challenge will start immediately after the school day ends and is intended to be a comprehensive and structured statewide program to fill the gap of youth activities available to students between the 6th and 8th grades. Programs offered will be from three general categories—academic enrichment, arts and culture, and sports. Currently the majority of existing intermediate/middle school programs is supported by unpredictable federal funding; a more reliable source of funding would provide greater stability for the programs, as well as greater participation. Accordingly, using a community based approach the program will seek to utilize available federal and state funds while also partnering with schools, parents and the private sector to provide funding and resources to facilitate the program’s success. The partnership with these stakeholders will ensure that the afterschool programs will be well established in their respective communities and will likely be financially sustainable for the long-term.
Program goals include:
- Continuing the Department of Education’s vision of utilizing a school-community network approach to engage community-wide support and responsibility for intermediate/middle school students’ education, health and well-being.
- Providing students at all intermediate/middle schools within the state the opportunity to participate in before- or afterschool programs that will enrich and encourage student growth in academics, personal responsibility and maturity, creativity, and the development of social skills.
- Reducing the number of student dropouts by providing a seamless transition of afterschool programs that promote student participation in school-related functions from elementary through high school.
- Providing health, fitness, educational and social enrichment opportunities to intermediate/middle school students.
MAR
14
POLICY
By Erik Peterson
On Wednesday, March 13, Kayla Brathwaite, a YMCA afterschool program participant and youth leader from New York City, testified before the
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies about the critical role afterschool programs play in supporting youth and working families. She urged Congress to maintain the nation’s current investment ($1.15 billion) for 21
st Century Community Learning Centers (21
st CCLC) and to support afterschool and summer learning.
Brathwaite is a high school student from Queens, NY. She has participated in
YMCA afterschool programs since middle school, and currently participates in the Y’s Youth and Government and Teens Take the City programs. The Y’s afterschool programs provide Kayla, like so many other youth, with enrichment and recreational opportunities, academic supports and interventions, leadership development, health and wellness guidance, and arts and humanities programming. Kayla’s mother depends on 21
st CCLC funding to not only bridge the gap between school and home during the critical hours of 3 to 6 p.m., but to also provide her with an affordable, high quality afterschool option.
Kayla testified, “I know that I am one of the lucky ones, one of the lucky kids in New York City who has the support of the people around her and an organization like the YMCA to help her succeed.” She continued, “I am here today with my mother who probably appreciates these funds and the programs they provide even more than I do since these programs allow my mother to be at her job knowing that I am in a safe place at the YMCA.”
In her
written testimony, Kayla stated, “I am here today for all youth who need these programs to succeed and for all parents who need these programs to help keep their jobs and for the employers who employ those parents—we should not forget that these programs or the lack of these programs will have an effect on our economy."
Afterschool advocates can reiterate Kayla’s message by
sending an email to Congress supporting funding for 21
st CCLC and afterschool and summer learning programs.
MAR
1
POLICY
By Erik Peterson
When Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 almost two years ago, they included a provision meant to be so difficult to swallow that it would force the House and the Senate, Republicans and Democrats, to come together and pass a reasonable plan for reigning in the deficit. That strategy failed and the result is that the across-the-board cuts known as the sequester officially went into effect today—after a two month reprieve that resulted from the Jan. 1, 2013, fiscal cliff resolution.
For many children, families, afterschool programs, community-based organizations and schools, the impact of the sequester will take some time before it's felt. For other communities, particularly those near military bases or other federally impacted communities, the effects will be apparent sooner. Most of the one hundred federal funding streams that support afterschool and summer learning programs will be cut by 5.1 percent across the board and indiscriminately, including AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Title I education funding, Child Care Development Block Grant vouchers, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Community Services Block Grant. When the cuts become apparent will depend on the funding stream and whether or not the funding comes from FY2013 funds.
A few examples of the impact of the cuts include:
- Approximately 30,000 low-income children of working parents would lose child care assistance through the Child Care and Development Block Grant and many more would experience a reduction in services.
- Title I Grants to school districts would see a cut in excess of $750 million, denying funding to well over 2,500 schools serving more than 1 million disadvantaged students. These funds pay for teachers, tutors and afterschool programs. Sequestration would mean job losses for more than 10,500 teachers and aides.
- For the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, it is now estimated that about 58,000 young people would lose afterschool and summer learning supports, likely beginning with the 2013-14 school year.
State by state fact sheets showing the full effect of the sequester have been released by the White House. A table showing the state level cuts to 21st CCLC as a result of the sequester is available on our website. Congress and the White House have the opportunity to act to resolve the sequester, and advocates can encourage them to do just that.
While the sequester dominated Washington this week, other events occurred as well:
- Sen. Boxer (D-CA) took to the Senate floor on Thursday to issue a statement that highlights the efforts of afterschool and summer learning programs in offering important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to young people.
- Hearings in the House Education and Workforce Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee continued to discuss school safety and violence prevention in the wake of the tragedy on Newtown, CT, last December.
- The Building a Grad Nation Summit brought thousands of educators and education advocates together early this week to discuss the progress in graduation rates and promising practices making a difference in the lives of young people.
FEB
14
POLICY
By Erik Peterson
On the heels of the Afterschool for All Challenge, there have been a number of activities in Washington as we move into the middle of February. From the State of the Union earlier this week to a day of action on sequestration today, the impact on education in general and afterschool and summer learning programs in particular are highlighted below:
State of the Union Address
On Tuesday the president addressed a joint session of Congress to deliver his fifth State of the Union address. While the speech covered a range of topics, education was a key focus, including an emphasis on improving high school, STEM education and early education—
including a proposal for high-quality preschool for every child and a significant investment in a new Early Head Start-Child Care partnership. While the details of the proposal continue to be fleshed out, it will be important to ensure that the new emphasis on early learners does not come at the expense of the 600,000 school-age children served through the Child Care Development Fund. Additionally the STEM and high school proposals offer potential opportunities for afterschool and summer learning programs and school-community partnerships. Among the proposals are:
- Supporting all 50 states to provide access to preschool for all low- and moderate-income children: The president is proposing to work with Congress to provide all low- and moderate-income 4-year-old children with high-quality preschool—while also expanding these programs to reach hundreds of thousands of additional middle class children—and incentivizing full-day kindergarten policies, so that all children enter kindergarten prepared for academic success.
- Creating a Master Teacher Corps of exemplary educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM): President Obama is calling on Congress to commit new resources to create a STEM Master Teacher Corps, enlisting 10,000 of America’s best and brightest science and math teachers to improve STEM education across America’s schools.
- Modernizing America’s high schools for real-world learning: The president is announcing a new competition to kick-start a redesign of high schools to emphasize real-world learning. The president’s plan will invest in redesigning high school to focus on providing challenging, relevant experiences as well as reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers and that create classes that focus on technology, science, engineering and other 21st century skills.
Less than 15 Days until Sequestration
Feb. 14 has been declared a day of action on the sequester by a coalition of 3,200 organizations, including the Afterschool Alliance, who are concerned about the impact of the 5 percent across-the-board funding cut on children and communities nationwide. A number of hearings this week, including one by the Senate Appropriations Committee, addressed the impact of the sequester. Education Sec. Duncan testified in front of the Appropriations Committee citing a cut to Title I education spending of $725 million, which is estimated to eliminate support to 2,700 schools and 1.2 million students. This week the House Appropriations Committee Democrats also issued a Report on Sequestration that included the following findings:
- Approximately 30,000 low-income children of working parents would lose child care assistance through the Child Care and Development Block Grant and many more would experience a reduction in services.
- Title I Grants to school districts would see a cut in excess of $750 million, denying funding to well over 2,500 schools serving more than 1 million disadvantaged students. These funds pay for teachers, tutors and afterschool programs. Sequestration would mean job losses for more than 10,500 teachers and aides.
The sequester will take effect on March 1 if Congress does not act. For the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, it is now estimated that about 80,000 young people would lose afterschool and summer learning supports beginning with the 2013-2014 school year if sequestration occurs. Friends of afterschool are urged to contact Congress in support of federal afterschool program funding.
FEB
14
POLICY
By Erik Peterson
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| Sen. Barbara Boxer at the "Breakfast of Champions" |
Following rousing speeches by Sens. Boxer (D-CA) and Murkowski (R-AK) last week during the "Breakfast of Champions," the bipartisan Afterschool for America’s Children Act, S. 326, wasintroduced in the Senate today. Sens. Boxer (D-CA), Murkowski (R-AK) and Murray (D-WA) introduced the Afterschool for America’s Children Act that reauthorizes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative and builds on past afterschool and summer learning program success. The bill number, 326, symbolizes the hours of 3 to 6 p.m. when young people should have quality learning and enrichment opportunities.
The bill:
- Strengthens school-community partnerships to include sharing of data and resources, the ability to better leverage relationships within the community and provide an intentional alignment with the school day.
- Promotes professional development and training of afterschool program staff.
- Encourages innovative new ways to engage students in learning that looks different from a traditional school day, with an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and physical activity and nutrition education. Supports approaches that focus on individualized learning that provide a variety of ways for students to master core skills and knowledge.
- Provides accountability measures that are connected to college- and career-readiness goals and show student progress over time toward meeting indicators of student success including school attendance, grades and on-time grade level advancement.
- Ensures that funding supports programs that utilize evidence-based, successful practices.
- Increases quality and accountability through parent engagement, better alignment with state learning objectives, and coordination between federal, state and local agencies.
- Does not prioritize any one model of expanded learning opportunities over another.
- Maintains formula grants to states that then distribute funds to local school-community partnerships through a competitive grant process.
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| Sen. Lisa Murkowski at the "Breakfast of Champions" |
Joining Sens.Boxer, Murkowski and Murray as co-sponors of the bill were Sens. Begich (D-AK) and Manchin (D-WV).
Plenty of national groups have already registered their support for the bill, including: Afterschool Alliance; After-School All-Stars; American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; American Camp Association; American Heart Association; A World Fit For Kids; Champions; Harlem RBI; National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Collaboration for Youth; Save the Children; and the United States Tennis Association.
In addition to these organizations it’s important that Congress see a strong showing of support from afterschool advocates across the country.
Your senators want to hear from you! Take action now by urging your senators to sign on as co-sponsors to support the next generation of afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs that are re-engaging children in their education and future. Share personal examples or experiences that illustrate the importance of these out-of-school programs for enhancing learning, keeping kids safe and helping working families.
FEB
11
CHALLENGE
By Erik Peterson
More than 200 advocates for quality afterschool and summer learning programs packed into the majestic Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building on February 7 for the "Breakfast of Champions." The event honored a record 18 state afterschool champions, National Afterschool Champion John Galvin, assistant principal of I.S. 318 in Brooklyn, NY, (and co-star of the award winning afterschool chess documentary Brooklyn Castle), and four senators who are champions of afterschool programs. John Galvin was recognized for his dedication to his students and the afterschool chess program, which has helped build a culture of success at the school. Galvin mounted a community-wide campaign to fight budget cuts that threatened the chess program.
The "Breakfast of Champions" was part of the 13th annual
Afterschool for All Challenge, which brought together hundreds of educators, parents, afterschool leaders and advocates from around the country for a series of events and meetings with Members of Congress. Sens. Mark Begich (AK), Barbara Boxer (CA), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) addressed the enthusiastic crowd and were honored for their support of afterschool programs. Following the Breakfast, advocates met with more than 200 House and Senate offices
asking for support for afterschool and summer learning programs that face a 5 percent funding cut next month due to sequestration; and supporting the soon to be introduced
Afterschool for America’s Children Act.
The State Champions honored at the Afterschool for All Challenge were:
- Arkansas: Tammie Cloyes, 21st CCLC Program Coordinator, Department of Education
- California: Michael Funk, Director of the After School Division, Department of Education
- Florida: Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, President and CEO, The Children’s Trust
- Georgia: N. Jean Walker Ph.D., Vice President of Education, United Way of Greater Atlanta
- Iowa: Dave Welter, Principal, Holmes Junior High School
- Indiana: Willis Bright, Former Director of Youth Programs, Lilly Endowment
- Kansas: Laura Kaiser, Family Engagement Chair, Kansas Parent Teacher Association
- Massachusetts: The Honorable Thomas McGee, Massachusetts State Senate
- North Carolina: Carr Thompson, Senior Program Officer, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
- Nebraska: Kristin Williams, Director of Community Initiatives, The Sherwood Foundation
- New Jersey: The Honorable Connie Wagner, New Jersey General Assembly
- New Mexico: Laurie Mueller, Former 21st CCLC State Coordinator, Department of Education
- Oklahoma: General Ben Robinson USAF (Ret.), President, Sentry One LLC
- Pennsylvania: Leslie Roesler, Associate Director, Pennsylvania Key – Berks County Intermediate Unit
- Rhode Island: The Honorable Frank Ferri, Rhode Island House of Representatives
- Texas: Jennifer Esterline, Independent Nonprofit Consultant
- Virginia: Kathryn Johnson, Executive Director, Alternatives, Inc.
- West Virginia: Gayle Manchin, Vice President, State Board of Education.
The 2013 Afterschool for All Challenge is generously sponsored by: United States Tennis Association, United States Chess Federation, the NAMM Foundation, Cable in the Classroom and the National AfterSchool Association. Additional generous support is provided by Torani Syrups, the Noyce Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation.
JAN
28
CHALLENGE
By Erik Peterson
Next week on Feb. 7, the Afterschool for All Challenge is an opportunity to raise your voice right in your own community to support the quality afterschool and summer learning programs that inspire young people to learn, support working families and keep children safe. Over the last 11 years several thousand parents, educators, young people and afterschool champions have come to Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill to make the case that afterschool, before school and summer learning programs are critical to the success of young people and a lifeline for parents.
This year we are changing it up and not asking advocates to travel to Washington, D.C., for the Afterschool for All Challenge. Because budgets are tight and times are uncertain at afterschool programs we are instead calling on friends of afterschool programs to call, meet in home district offices and email Congress on Afterschool for All Challenge day: Feb. 7, 2013. Here in Washington, we will be backing up your outreach at home through face-to-face meetings with Congress, as we team up with over 40 state teams who will be in Washington for the conference of the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks.
The results of the last 11 years of afterschool advocacy are clear: federal support for afterschool and summer learning through the 21st CCLC has grown—from being able to help 40,000 students access support in 1998 to helping more than 1 million young people last year. We know afterschool works and champions of afterschool are excellent at making the case:
- The Promising Afterschool Programs Study found that regular participation in high-quality afterschool programs is linked to significant gains in standardized test scores and work habits. (University of California, Irvine, 2007)
- A meta analysis of 68 afterschool studies concluded that high quality afterschool programs can lead to improved attendance, behavior and coursework. Students participating in a high quality afterschool program went to school more, behaved better, received better grades and did better on tests compared to non-participating students. (Durlak, Weissberg & Pachan, 2010)
- The Promising Afterschool Programs Study found that students reported improved social and behavioral outcomes: elementary students reported reductions in aggressive behavior toward other students and skipping school; middle school students reported reduced use of drugs and alcohol, compared to their routinely unsupervised peers. (Policy Studies Associates, Inc., 2007)
Register online today to take the Afterschool for All Challenge in your own community. Set up your meetings and join us in calling on Congress to commit to afterschool:
1. Support funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Child Care Development Fund in 2013.
- If sequestration goes into effect on March 2 approximately 100,000 young people could lose access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs.
- Discretionary programs have already contributed $1.5 trillion in spending cuts from the Fiscal Year 2011 continuing resolution, the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011 and the bipartisan American Taxpayer Relief Act.
- Now is the time to invest in our young people through programs like 21st CCLC so they are prepared to lead the nation in the future.
2. Co-sponsor reintroduction of the bipartisan Afterschool for America's Children Act.
- The bill reauthorizes the 21st CCLC program and supports quality afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs that enhance and complement the school day through engaging, hands-on, experiential learning activities.
- Builds upon strong partnerships between schools and community- and faith-based organizations through shared data and resources.
- Promotes professional development and training of afterschool program staff.
3. Join the Afterschool Caucus.
- Invite members of Congress to join more than 100 of their peers in serving on the House and Senate Afterschool Caucuses. Membership on the Caucus signifies a commitment to afterschool, before-school and summer learning program opportunities for young people.
JAN
17
POLICY
By Erik Peterson
Afterschool programs can play an important role in the national effort to ensure our young people are safe at school, after school and in their communities. On Wednesday Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant was present as Pres. Obama and Vice Pres. Biden announced their plan to help protect young people and communities from gun violence, including a number of measures that strive to create a safer climate for students in and out of school.
Jodi Grant joined cabinet members from the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Justice and other federal agencies; Members of Congress; mayors; and officials from allied youth serving and afterschool organizations like the YMCA of the USA, Boys and Girls Club of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Early this month the Afterschool Alliance attended an intimate meeting where we were invited to make recommendations to the vice president’s task force. These recommendations include:
- Targeted funding through the Department of Justice for evidence-based afterschool and summer learning programs that prevent youth violence, including programs offering physical activity that helps contribute to positive mental health.
- Increase funding for afterschool and summer learning program infrastructure through the Department of Education’s 21st CCLC initiative.
- Holistic measures for students and schools that include their health, safety and education.
- Universal training for personnel who work with youth in schools and community settings.
- Proactive efforts by community organizations, schools and parents, working together to ensure that all children are connected to the community in meaningful ways at each stage of development.
The president’s plan includes a number of proposals of interest to the afterschool field designed to create a safer climate at schools across the country. According to the vice president’s findings, a report issued by the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Education after the Columbine shooting found that one of the best things schools can do to reduce violence and bullying is to improve a school’s climate and increase trust and communication between students and staff. Afterschool programs are one of the evidence-based strategies that have been found to reduce bullying and other problem behaviors like drug abuse or poor attendance, while making students feel safer at school and improving academic performance. The president’s education-related proposals include:
- A renewed school climate emphasis that builds off of technical assistance the Department of Education already provided to 18,000 schools to establish evidence-based strategies to improve school climate. These strategies involve certain steps for the whole school (like consistent rules and rewards for good behavior), with more intensive steps for groups of students exhibiting at-risk behavior and individual services for students who continue to exhibit troubling behavior. The Administration is proposing a new, $50 million initiative to help 8,000 more schools train their teachers and other school staff to implement these strategies. Afterschool programs are a proven method for providing the necessary social and emotional learning and wrap around supports.
- A new Comprehensive School Safety program that will give $150 million to school districts and law enforcement agencies to hire school resource officers, school psychologists, social workers and counselors.
- $30 million of one-time grants to states to help their school districts develop and implement emergency management plans.
- Provide “Mental Health First Aid” training for teachers: Project AWARE includes $15 million for training for teachers and other educators and adults who interact with youth to detect and respond to mental illness in children and young adults, including how to encourage adolescents and families experiencing these problems to seek treatment.
- Project AWARE also includes $40 million to help school districts work with law enforcement, mental health agencies, and other local organizations to assure students with mental health issues or other behavioral issues are referred to the services they need.
- To help schools break the cycle of violence, Congress should provide $25 million to offer students mental health services for trauma or anxiety, conflict resolution programs and other school-based violence prevention strategies.
- Train more than 5,000 additional mental health professionals to serve students and young adults: Experts often cite the shortage of mental health service providers as one reason it can be hard to access treatment. To help fill this gap, the Administration is proposing $50 million to train social workers, counselors, psychologists and other mental health professionals. This would provide stipends and tuition reimbursement to train more than 5,000 mental health professionals serving young people in our schools and communities.
The Afterschool Alliance looks forward to actively working with policy makers and afterschool providers to ensure our children have access to social, emotional learning and holistic supports that will help make all our students safer at school, after school and in their communities.
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