New RPSA Blog, ACT Now is Hiring, and Community Schools Convening!

In This Issue

New RPSA Blog!
ACT Now is Hiring!
Midwest Community Schools Convening

Check Out ACT Now's Map and Database

ACT Now's Map and Database is the most extensive statewide database for Illinois OST programs filterable by geographic area, grades served and programming offered.

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Forging Pathways to Success: Culturally Responsive Collaborations

Join us on January 17, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom for session three of ACT Now’s Cultural Responsiveness Series to learn how to identify community partners in an effort to make services more intentional. ACT Now will share strategies to help organizations effectively market their out-of-school-time (OST) programs and establish a shared vision through collaboration. This training will include resources for introductory conversations, templates for partnership agreements, and ideas for future partnership evaluation.

Engagement level: High
Audience: Afterschool professionals or educators

If you are not a member of ANCAL please register to access this training. Once you have created an account you will be able to search for the training in the course catalog.

If you are already a member of ANCAL search 'Forging Pathways to Success: Culturally Responsive Collaborations’ in the course catalog or click the button below.

RPSA January Blog: Expectations for the Quarterly Meetings!

The ACT Now RPSA team has some updates regarding expectations for Quarterly Meetings going forward into the new year. Click here to read the blog!

Policy Updates

State Updates

Proposed Change in CTE Funding

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will vote to approve the initial draft of the new Career and Technical Education funding formula at its monthly meeting on January 24, 2024. The draft rules will be posted for public comment on the ISBE website for 45 days. ISBE explained that Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) has given them a new understanding of student needs across the state, allowing them to more equitably distribute other grants, such as CTE funding. For more information on the proposed changes, click here.

Child Care Development Plan Cycle for 2025-2027

Child care policy is undergoing revisions, and school-age childcare providers and afterschool and summer programs serving youth ages 5 to 13 will play an important role. States describe their policies for implementing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) law every three years in plans submitted to the federal government, known as the Child Care and Development Fund Plan. The planning cycle is live now. The Afterschool Alliance wrote a blog on the timeline of the planning process as well as details as to what the plan entails.

Events

To register for all upcoming ACT Now trainings and events please sign up for ACT Now Center for Afterschool Learning (ANCAL). ANCAL (hosted through Collabornation) is an online learning and training platform that is FREE for all Illinois afterschool and OST professionals.

ACT Now Events

OST After ESSER: School Partnerships
January 10, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Forging Pathways to Success: Culturally Responsive Collaborations
January 17, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

STEAM and How to Plan Cross-Curricula Activities
February 6, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Ripple Effect Mapping
February 8, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

External Events

WORKING WITH LGBTQIA+ YOUTH Webinar
January 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

How School Leaders Can Build Emotional Intelligence
January 11, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Community Health Workers Summit
January 24, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Resources for Providers

Administration

What 2024 Will Bring for K-12 Policy: 5 Issues to Watch

This article from Education Week discusses five policy issues educators will need to pay close attention to in the year ahead.

Youth Development

Strategies to Be There for Young People

This free resource from Mentoring.org aims to benefit any adult looking to support young people. It provides mentors with strategies to support young people in their various life journeys and teaches them about the core skills of mentoring.

Updated Dyslexia Handbook Now Available

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released a revised edition of The Dyslexia Guide: A Handbook for Parents, Educators, and Students. The handbook intends to educate stakeholders with information and resources about dyslexia.

Opportunities for Providers

Administration

ACT Now is Hiring a Community School Specialist!

ACT Now is hiring a Community School Specialist who will support ACT Now’s work
implementing and expanding the community school model of education at schools around the state. This role will provide technical support and training to Community School Coordinators and other school and community personnel in a variety of regions on the four pillars of community schools as well as pipeline services. Additionally, this role will track data on specific grant deliverables. For questions or concerns please reach out to riversl@actnowillinois.org.

ACT Now is Hiring a Membership Coordinator

The Membership Coordinator at ACT Now plays a crucial role in expanding and
maintaining our network of afterschool program providers, stakeholders, and partners. The Membership Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of membership, from recruitment of new Coalition members to ongoing support, communication, and networking opportunities. Applications are due January 31, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. For questions or concerns, please email spencere@actnowillinois.org.

2024 Midwest Community Schools Convening!

On February 23, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., join Community School leaders via Zoom to share best practices for developing sustainable strategies in schools and communities. This convening, hosted by the Coalition for Community Schools, is open to anyone who is currently engaged with Community Schools or interested in learning more about the model.

Youth Opportunities

Youth Development

On the Money Magazine Spring Internship

The Economic Awareness Council has opened the application for their Spring On the Money Magazine Internship. Any high school student of any grade level who is interested is encouraged to apply. Selected students may join two different tracks: Journalism and Entrepreneurship. Virtual interviews will be held on January 23, 2024.

Chicago Scholars Application

The program application for Chicago Scholars is now open for High School Juniors! As a Chicago Scholar, students will receive personalized support in the areas of college access, college success, and career and leadership development. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2024.

Funding Opportunities

The New York Life Foundation Offers Grants of up to $100,000 for OST Programs

The New York Life Foundation invites out-of-school time programs to apply for a competitive grant opportunity to support and bolster the ability of afterschool and summer learning programs to help prepare middle school students for success in high school, college, and life. Applications are due February 1, 2024.

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NOTE: We sort our trainings and resources by the Core Areas in the Illinois Statewide Afterschool Quality Standards to promote better understanding and implementation of the Standards. Headings denote a Core Area. To learn more about the Quality Standards, click here.

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