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News you can use from APOST

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the schoolhouse
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The backpacks were hung by the entrance with care,
In hopes that Afterschool Programs would soon be there;
The children were waiting for programs to start,
Things like math, dance, STEM and the arts...

We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Yea
r!
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Initial Findings on the Impact of District-led Summer Learning Programs

Can large urban school districts successfully run high-quality summer learning programs? If so, what impact can these programs have on student outcomes? These are two of the questions Wallace, the RAND Corporation and five urban school districts are exploring as part of the Summer Learning District Demonstration Project. It's a six-year effort to provide voluntary, district-led summer programs that offer a mix of academic instruction and enrichment and test whether participation in two summers of programming boosts students’ success in school.

RAND is conducting a randomized controlled trial, the largest of its kind. The first set of results from the study have just been published in the report Ready for Fall? Near-Term Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Students’ Learning Opportunities and Outcomes. These initial findings tell us the near-term effect of one summer of programming as measured by reading and math tests and social-emotional skill assessments administered in the fall of 2013, shortly after the first summer of programming ended. Highlights of the report include: the districts successfully recruited large numbers of low-income students to free voluntary programs and carried out the programs with research-based features and the programs had a significant positive effect on student math achievement, giving students a meaningful advantage in the fall.
For Wallace's summary of the project and near-term findings, click here.

Changes to Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse

Changes to the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) have been voted on in the PA Legislature and will be in effect as law on December 31, 2014.   These laws will impact child care providers immediately and action must be taken to ensure you are in compliance with the new laws.  All individuals who work with children (directors, facility staff, volunteers, etc) will need to take a 3 hour Act 31 approved training and have until June 30, 2015 to complete this.

Approved training can be found through the following sources: 
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center and PA Family Support Alliance

Updates to the approved Mandated Reporter training list can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education Website.
Become a Digital Corps Host Site
 

The Sprout Fund is recruiting child and youth-serving organizations to become host sites for the Remake Learning Digital Corps!

The Digital Corps connects newly-trained digital learning practitioners with afterschool programs to provide technology and mentorship skills to teens and tweens. Together, Corps members and APOST sites work together to help kids develop the skills they’ll need to thrive in school, college, the workforce, and life.

The Sprout Fund has an open call for APOST-associated programs that wish to host Digital Corps members at their sites. Digital Corps members will receive training and be eligible to receive compensation for their work with teens as part of the program. Host sites will receive the free services of Digital Corps members. The deadline to apply is January 9. 

Click here for more information.

Grants 

National Center for Families Learning: 2015 Toyota Family Teacher of the Year Award Nomination, Deadline Dec. 31st
Stop Hunger: From Youth Changing the World and the Sodexo Foundation for youth leaders ages 5-25 across the U.S, Deadline Jan. 15th
AAUW: Community Action Grants, Deadline Jan. 15th 
Boat U.S. Foundation: 2014 Grassroot Grants, Deadline Jan. 15th
Rathmann Challenge: Big Idea Challenge opens Jan. 5th for innovative thinkers to implement successful programs.
2015 Excellence Award:  Recognizes outstanding summer programs that demonstrate excellence in accelerating academic achievement and promoting healthy development, Deadline Feb. 13
National Center for Best Practices in School-Age Care and Summer LearningAwarded for best practices in school-age child care and summer learning, Deadline June 30th

Employment Opportunities 


Remake Learning: Digital Corps Member (Posted 12.23)
Three Rivers Youth: Tutor  (Posted 12.16)
The Brashear Association, Incorporated: Case Manager/Employment Coordinator Tutor
 (Posted 12.09)
Neighborhood Learning Alliance: Coordinator, Elementary Afterschool Program (Posted 12.09)
Neighborhood Learning Alliance: Assistant Coordinator, Elementary Afterschool Program (Posted 12.09)
Neighborhood Learning Alliance: West End Works Recruiter (Posted 12.09)
Neighborhood Learning Alliance: Elementary Afterschool Coach (Posted 12.09)
Homeless Children's Education Fund: Braddock Afterschool Instructor (Posted 12.02)
Homeless Children's Education Fund: Substitute Instructor (Posted 12.02)
Homeless Children's Education Fund:  Homewood Afterschool Instructor (Posted 12.02)

 
If you have an employment opportunity, email the position description in word or pdf to APOST@uwac.org.
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