Weekly Media Roundup: September 23, 2026

Commission Talks Out-of-School Education Needs, Career Pathways, Alabama Political Reporter (Alabama)

In 2025, the Alabama state legislature established the Joint Interim Study Commission on Expanding Access to High-Quality Out-of-School Education Programs to study ways to boost afterschool and summer learning across the state. Earlier this week, the Commission reviewed the results of a survey of parents, stakeholders and students. Respondents cited better affordability and more STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming as key priorities, and Commissioners discussed ways to boost STEM programming by partnering with apprenticeship programs. “I think afterschool and summer learning — that is a prime opportunity for us to be doing more awareness and exploration activities about careers and helping us get our young adults on those strong career pathways,” Commissioner Meredith C. Smith told the Alabama Political Reporter.

The Discovery Lab Academy Starts Off Strong, Valley Times-News (Alabama)

After The Growth Academy closed its afterschool program last spring, Buffie Jones responded quickly by opening The Discovery Lab Academy, a nonprofit afterschool program in Chambers County, Alabama that offers STEM activities and encourages creative problem-solving and critical thinking opportunities. “We wanted children to have a safe place to go to in the afternoon,” Jones told the Valley Times-News. “We wanted them to have a place where they could expand their minds and learn new things.” Jones hopes to secure enough funding to eventually offer the program free of charge.

The School Day Ends Before the Workday. Utah Parents Are Feeling the Gap, KSL-TV (Utah)

Afterschool programs provide Utah children with more than supervision, offering homework assistance, sports, arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities and social development. Yet according to the Afterschool Alliance’s recent America After 3PM report, only one in six Utah parents who want afterschool programs for their children are able to enroll them. Significant barriers include limited program availability and costs. “We did a lot of searching for summer camps that could accommodate both our schedule and our cost needs because summer care gets really expensive when you're paying for a full day,” KSL-TV reporter and mother of three children Heather Peterson said. "I don't know how we would be able to work a normal eight-hour day without it.”

Helping Young People Thrive in Real Life and Online: Evidence-Based Investments Idaho Can Make Now, Idaho EdNews (Idaho)

In a recent guest column for Idaho EdNews, Idaho Out-of-School Network Director Anna Almerico highlights afterschool and summer programs and the opportunities for real-life exploration and connection they provide as an antidote to the harms of social media.  Almerico cites research demonstrating that lack of social connection drives symptoms of depression, and that Idaho teenagers who lack meaningful connections are especially vulnerable to social media’s dangers. “The social media settlement agreement with Meta and the state of Idaho specifically recognizes youth programs, outdoor activities and after-school and summer programs as potential uses of these funds,” Almerico writes. “Idaho decision makers can invest in youth and ensure all kids have opportunities to engage, reach their full potential and develop the skills to create a thriving Idaho 20 years from now.”