Resource Database

Afterschool civic engagement programs offer learning experiences that benefit students, the afterschool program, and society as a whole. This article from the National AfterSchool Association outlines steps your team can take to implement a civic engagement program in your afterschool program.

The You for Youth website has new videos for afterschool programs that want to implement or improve STEM programming. Topics include aligning with the school day, strengthening partnerships, program implementation, and high-quality STEM practices and tips from the field. The videos profile different afterschool programs and include insights from afterschool practitioners.

Read Write Think, an organization dedicated to providing access to the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction through free materials, has resources specifically for parents and afterschool practitioners. The website has lessons and activities for different grades, games and tools, podcasts, and a series of tips and how-tos. These resources are appropriate for afterschool instructors, or they can also be used as family engagement resources to give parents more information on taking part in their student’s education.

The PBS LearningMedia website has a series of professional learning resources on Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. The resources include model instructional best practices, information about assessments, and an in-depth explanation of the standards. Resources for both content areas were produced by the Tennessee public television stations.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Team in the Division of College and Career Readiness at ISBE and the Illinois Quality Afterschool Team invite you to participate in our webinar, High School Afterschool: Challenges and Opportunities. This webinar will highlight innovative strategies used by high school afterschool programs to successfully navigate common challenges such as student recruitment, retention, maintaining quality staff, and developing meaningful partnerships. The webinar takes place on August 20 at 10 a.m. CDT. Register on the Illinois Quality Afterschool website.

This webinar recording from Dialogue4Health explores how out-of-school time staff can help young people eat healthy and stay active. The recording presents childhood obesity statistics, the National Afterschool Association’s Standards for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity, examples of how afterschool programs are implementing the standards, and professional development resources.

Afterschool programs are considered pioneers in applying a connected learning approach-creating a learning environment for students that builds on their interests; introduces them to new passions; provides mentors and a supportive peer network; and links this engagement to academics, careers, and civic participation. Afterschool Programs: Inspiring Students with a Connected Learning Approach, a report from the Afterschool Alliance, discusses the role of afterschool programs in connected learning. It also provides examples of afterschool programs that are offering connected learning opportunities that join together their students’ interests, peer networks, and academics, as well as key takeaways from programs.

Partnerships between schools, expanded learning programs, and community-based organizations can play a key role in supporting school improvement and student learning. This resource guide from ExpandED Schools by TASC offers a guide to the strategic questions school teams might ask themselves and their potential partners to have the best outcomes for young people. The guide includes questions and a scoring rubric.

Organizations with strong financial management are better able to fulfill their missions and deliver high-quality services. The Wallace Foundation has developed a suite of online resources to help nonprofit organizations strengthen financial management. The resources are divided into four key areas: planning, monitoring, operations, and governance.

The National Afterschool Association (NAA) has created a podcast series called “Quality Conversations.” In the series, NAA executive director Gina Warner is speaking to researchers, experts, practitioners, and funders about afterschool quality-what it is, how to achieve it, and why it’s imperative. The first two episodes address partnering with community colleges and using school and community needs assessments to design high-impact afterschool programs.