Weekly Media Roundup: August 26, 2026

More Kids Get STEM Content in After-School Programs, Education Week

A new study released yesterday by the Afterschool Alliance finds that 92 percent of parents of afterschool students report their child’s program offers STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, up from 69 percent in 2014.  At the report’s launch event, educators highlighted afterschool programs’ unique ability to engage students in STEM learning through fun, hands-on activities, such as when students in a Maryland program recently viewed microorganisms in yogurt through microscopes. Still, 22.6 million students are shut out of afterschool programs altogether. “If we want our kids to have more access to hands-on, engaging, exciting STEM learning opportunities, one of the best ways to do that is to have more after school programs to serve our kids,” Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant told Education Week.

Ossining Schools Summer Camps Offer Something for Every Student, River Journal North (New York)

Throughout the summer, the Ossining School District in New York offered a variety of summer camps featuring engaging lessons, hands-on activities and field trips with community partners. One popular trip included a visit to the Westchester County’s Department of Emergency Services where students met specialized rescue teams and learned about high-risk situations. “From enrichment opportunities and academic programs to camps, athletics, and much more, our students had countless opportunities to learn, grow, explore and connect,” Ossining Superintendent of Schools Mary Fox-Alter told the River Journal North. “It was a summer filled with meaningful experiences and lasting memories for our students.” The district also provided volunteer opportunities for high school students who helped run the sports camps.

Solutions-Based Programs Filling Resource Gaps in Schools, KORN Radio (South Dakota)

Since 2019, the Promising Futures Fund has helped expand afterschool opportunities for students in South Dakota, particularly in schools serving communities with high rates of poverty. Today, the Fund supports 21 schools in Sioux Falls and four elementary schools in Rapid City, providing valuable funding for afterschool programs, family engagement nights and other enrichment opportunities. “Schools have very limited resources, and so we have to be creative in looking to our community for partnerships to help provide these types of opportunities and experiences for our students,” Jami Jo Thompson, superintendent of the Rapid City School District, told KORN Radio.

$1.38M Grant Expands After-School, Summer Learning in Sand Springs, KTUL-TV (Oklahoma)

Students in the Full STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) Ahead afterschool program in Sand Springs, Oklahoma get help with homework, eat healthy meals, conduct hands-on science experiments and create art, thanks to funding from a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. The grant also supports a free summer program with a different theme each year. Program leaders say Full STEAM Ahead gives working parents peace of mind while building students’ leadership skills. “We don’t want our kids to go home and be in an empty house, a lot of parents are having to work late just to make ends meet so this gives them a safe environment, it gives them a chance to be with their peers,” Director Jamie Conrad told KTUL-TV.