Weekly Media Roundup: August 21, 2024

Madison Out-of-School Time (MOST) to Recognize Outstanding Youth Workers for Their Dedication and Creativity Supporting Youth, Madison 365 (Wisconsin)

Next week, Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will honor 11 afterschool staff members as Madison-area Out-of-School Time (MOST) Outstanding Youth Workers. The honorees were nominated by their colleagues, with local high school students making the final selections. Amongst the winners are two “Legacy Award” honorees “who have collectively given nearly a century of service to young people and families at East Madison Community Center,” Madison 365 reported. MOST’s network includes 45 Madison-area youth organizations as well as the City of Madison, Madison Metropolitan School District, and Dane County.

Oregon Wraps Up $30 Million Summer Learning Investments as Students Prepare for New Year, Jefferson Public Radio (Oregon)

This summer, more than 50,000 students across Oregon participated in summer enrichment programs, thanks to a $30 million investment from the state. “These summer programs give our students who are most in need of support the opportunity to strengthen their skills and position themselves for enhanced success in the coming school year,” Brooke Nova, a Hillsboro School District assistant superintendent, told Jefferson Public Radio. Unfortunately, the funding was significantly lower than in past years and many school districts, including Oregon’s largest school district, Portland Public Schools, did not receive funding.
Has Before- and After-School Care Become Scarce in Savannah? Some Spaces Remain Available, Savannah Morning News (Georgia)

While the growth of Chatham County, Georgia's economy provides increased job opportunities, it is putting a strain on before- and afterschool programs as they struggle to offer competitive salaries with limited resources. “It does create a very tight workforce for the employers that are already here,” YMCA of Costal Georgia Vice President of Early Learning Becky Lehto told the Savannah Morning News. Even with increased salaries, hiring and referral incentives, and additional staffing trainings, the YMCA is having difficulty meeting the demand for afterschool programs due to staffing shortages.

'Jaws Are on the Floor': After School Program Inspiring Students to Pursue STEM Careers, Fox San Antonio (Texas)

Students in San Antonio are taking part in hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities thanks to a partnership between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology. The 21AFTERSCHOOL program includes a Lego “cyber city,” a cybersecurity operations center, flight simulators, a topographical sandbox, esports, robotics and more. “We want students to be aware of the STEM education opportunities and education career pathways that are available to them in San Antonio,” Chief Learning Officer Cliff Zintgraff told Fox San Antonio. There are “lots of jobs and careers that those students could land that could really make a difference for them and their families and the community.