Weekly Media Roundup: November 29, 2023

Tackling Absenteeism: Kalamazoo Schools and Community Programs Unite to Keep Students Engaged, WWMT (Michigan)

With absenteeism at a historic high of 27 percent in 2022, Kalamazoo Public Schools in Michigan are working with local afterschool programs to develop relationships, improve attendance, and connect with students after the isolation of the pandemic. At Kzoo Parks afterschool programs, students in kindergarten through fifth grade take part in a variety of activities while also receiving academic support and one-on-one attention. “We give kids something to look forward to,” Kayla Todd, the Youth Development Coordinator for City of Kalamazoo, told WWMT. “If there are certain students who need to stand up, just stand up, or some kids do better if they're eating while they are doing their homework, we let them eat, we meet them where they are.”

U.S. Education Secretary Announces $6.5 Million Grant to Support Idaho Community School Programs, KTVB (Idaho)

Thanks to a $6.5 million federal grant, Idaho will be able to support and expand its community school programs throughout the state. Working in partnership with the United Way of Treasure Valley, the community schools offer resources such as before- and afterschool programs, summer programming, parenting classes and more. “We recognize that for every child to succeed in school, they need not only a lot of support academically, but to be healthy, well-rounded children,” United Way President Tim Jackson told KTVB. “If you think about the fact that more than 70% of Idaho is rural, and a lot of rural communities have limited additional resources to help children outside of the school setting, this grant is going to help bring those resources together and help to support those students.”

Nearly 90% of Public Schools Now Offer Afterschool Programs, Youth Today

Out-of-school-time grants from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) have helped students across the country access quality afterschool programs – including in Northeast Kingdom, Vermont, where the funds support opportunities for students to explore cycling, martial arts, cooking and more. Advocates say more funding is needed as ESSER funds expire to ensure all students can benefit from afterschool and that programs can offer holistic enrichment activities. “Playing on a sports team, especially if you’re not an elite athlete, gives you all sorts of opportunities to interact with other people in a way that’s really positive. Being part of a school musical, being part of a paper — there’s all these activities that really give kids a sense of meaning and purpose,” Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant told Youth Today.

D.C. Teens, Now New Authors, Celebrate Book Launch, The Washington Post

At the Reach Incorporated afterschool program in D.C., teens serve as mentors and literacy tutors for younger students, while also working with editors and coaches to write and publish books. Last week, student authors celebrated their latest book launch, which included works focused on grief, climate change and more. Tenth grader Mya Majette told the Washington Post that she was inspired to co-author “Floods in a Flash” because there aren’t “that many books about natural disasters, and flash floods aren’t really talked about. Kids … deserve to know what’s happening in their world.”