Weekly Media Roundup: April 12, 2023

Schools Used ESSER Funds for After-School Programs. What Happens When the Money Runs Out? Education Week

With the assistance of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding, afterschool and summer programs throughout the country were able to expand and serve a greater number of students during the pandemic. But the federal COVID relief funding will expire in September 2024, and programs are faced with finding new funding streams to sustain their programs. Nikki Gillani of ACT Now Illinois acknowledges the importance of community-based partnerships to maintain successful, long-term programming. “Partnering is really the most sustainable way of moving forward because you’re not losing those opportunities once ESSER funding runs out. That organization will still be there and those opportunities will still be there,” Gillani told Education Week. Programs also plan to explore other potential funding opportunities through various federal and state education agencies, and advocates are calling on local, state and federal leaders to expand funding for afterschool.

Career and Technical Education Needs a Mental Health Revolution, Chalkbeat

Recognizing the need to offer a comprehensive high school afterschool program, occupational therapist Michele Morgan launched the Scratch the Surface program six years ago with Warren Woods Public Schools in Warren, Michigan. The afterschool program offers vocational training and art programming designed to build crucial social and emotional learning skills for at-risk students. In a recent guest column in Chalkbeat, Morgan writes: “Through the power of mindfulness, my students have learned to process their feelings in a constructive way at school. This has allowed them to refocus on developing job skills and preparing for career success.”

Can After-School Programs Help Children Recover From the Pandemic?, EdSurge

Free mental health counseling at After School Matters in Chicago and youth public speaking competitions at Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit are just two of the innovative ways afterschool programs across the country are helping students re-engage and recover from the pandemic. Afterschool programs provide “an opportunity to have healthy relationships with peers and caring adults and mentors. And so much of that was lost during the pandemic, as well as the academic piece,” Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant told EdSurge. But research shows unmet demand for afterschool has soared. In response, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Engage Every Student Initiative to encourage school districts and states to partner with community-based organizations and invest funds from the American Rescue Plan in afterschool.

How a Lack of After-School Care Defined a Single Father’s Life, Voice of San Diego (California)

Jared Goossens spent a year on a waitlist trying to secure a spot in an afterschool program for his 7-year-old. Without after school care, he lost his job in construction, had to turn down a job offer from the United States Postal Service, and struggled to make ends meet by delivering food part-time. Finally, an increase in state funding enabled his son’s school district to significantly expand the number of slots available at the PrimeTime afterschool program. “It wasn’t just Jared, that got off the waiting list, it was nearly 1,500 kids who now have access,” San Diego Unified School Board Vice President Shana Hazan told Voice of San Diego. “This reflects this systematic prioritization of providing high-quality after-school programming to all our kids who need it, and we’re continuing to do more and more of it.” Goossens told Voice of San Diego his son loves his new program. Goossens himself has accepted a job working in construction, but he feels more investment is needed to ensure others don’t face the challenges he did.