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Afterschool Focus: Back to School with Illinois Learning Priorities >
Afterschool Focus: Back to School with Illinois Learning Priorities To help Illinois families make the most of the 2016–17 school year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has identified the following priority areas for the upcoming school year: attendance, literacy, college and career readiness, and health and wellness. As 21st CCLC professionals, you and your teams are uniquely positioned to integrate these priorities into afterschool programming and engage families with these initiatives. Program Profile: Rock Island County ROE Lights ON for LearningThe team at Lights ON for Learning, the 21st Century Community Learning Center operated by the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education (ROE), works year-round to offer high-quality programming and meet the needs of the diverse group of students the program serves. For this issue’s program profile, we asked the program and site leaders to discuss how they are addressing the Illinois State Board of Education’s priorities for the 2016–17 school year. News from the Field: Project SuccessProject Success, Vermilion County’s 21st CCLC, empowers children and families to achieve their highest potential by exposing them to artistic and cultural enrichment. Over the past semester, three of the 21st CCLC sites put their own special spin on this approach to learning by creating dynamic, hands-on programs for the community. Recommended ResourcesThe Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban YouthThe National Summer Learning Project, a multi-year study funded by the Wallace Foundation, investigates the most effective practices and the impacts on youth attending voluntary full-day summer programs in urban districts. The report summarizes the findings from two summers of programs, involving over 3,000 students. Exciting new findings from the project include math and reading benefits comparable to 20–25% of a year’s learning for high-attending elementary students after the second summer. The How and Why of Promoting Creativity in ChildrenThis webinar presented by the Afterschool Alliance and the Center for Childhood Creativity focuses on seven critical components all children need in order to think creatively and develop inventive solutions to today’s problems. Based on research carried out by the Center, participants learn activities to encourage youth to be resilient, collaborative, and motivated. Afterschool in Communities of Concentrated PovertyThe Afterschool Alliance has been collecting data for decades as part of the organization's America After 3pm research. This resource includes a special report on how afterschool programs can support families living in communities of concentrated poverty. There is also an executive summary and infographic that afterschool advocates can use to share information with stakeholders. Information for GranteesImportant Dates and Events
Grants and Other OpportunitiesUnited States Senate Youth Program 2016–17 Hearst Scholarship. The United States Senate Youth Program is a 1-week program in Washington, DC, during which youth delegates hear major policy addresses and participate in meetings with U.S. government leaders. The William Randolph Hearst Foundation Scholarship pays all expenses for the week and also awards scholarship recipients with a $10,000 college scholarship. The deadline for the scholarship is 4:00 p.m., October 5. Learn more about the scholarship on the ISBE website. Round Two of ESSA Statewide Listening Tour. The Illinois State Board of Education, with assistance from Regional Offices of Education, is hosting a second round of listening tour meetings to collect feedback on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Meetings are currently being held across the state to provide overview information on ESSA and allow participants to share their ideas on the draft state plan. Dates and locations are on the ESSA section of the ISBE website. Farm to Schools Grant Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm to School Grant Program assists eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods. The funds may be used for training, supporting operations, planning, purchasing equipment, developing school gardens, developing partnerships, and implementing farm to school programs. More information can be found on the USDA website, and there will also be an informational webinar on September 29. Applications are due on December 8. Healthier Meals Cooking Classes Offered for Nutrition Programs Staff. Registration is underway for Healthier Meals Cooking Classes, which are offered through ISBE’s Nutrition and Wellness Programs Division. Those working with the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the National School Lunch Program, and the School Breakfast Program are all welcome to attend the classes. ISBE administers the federal programs in Illinois. A schedule of classes and registration information can be found on the ISBE website. Join Us OnlineDo you have a question for your afterschool colleagues? Would you like to know what’s going on in other Illinois 21st CCLC programs? Join the Illinois Quality Afterschool Facebook Group. Would you like to receive the Illinois Quality Afterschool newsletter and resource brief? Fill out our online subscription form. |
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