Scale Up Your SEL: Do It

Social-emotional learning (SEL) teaches the vital skills that help to lead a healthy, happy life. The second part of this year’s series is Scale Up Your SEL: Do It. The focus of this webinar is to examine the day-to-day practice of SEL in youth programming by looking at curricula and activities. At this webinar, attendees will:

• Develop a deeper understanding of the 5 competencies of SEL
• Understand and develop SEL common language as a tool to teach and model SEL
• Practice SEL through take-home activity bundle

We will hear from expert SEL practitioners from Wings for Kids (WINGS) and from providers from around the state who implement SEL throughout their afterschool program. Join us on Wednesday, February 21, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Audience: program administrators

Engagement level: low

For questions, please reach out to Andrew Hitzhusean at hitzhusena@actnowillinois.org.

President Joe Biden signed into law a short-term funding extension on January 19, 2024, averting a partial government shutdown. The short-term funding extension sets up two new funding deadlines on March 1, 2024, and March 8, 2024. The Afterschool Alliance wrote a blog to explain the impact this new bill has on afterschool funding. 

Extending the Liquidation Deadline of ESSER III Funds to Promote Student Success

​The U.S. Department of Education released a letter sent to state education agencies outlining the process for requesting American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding extensions. State agencies and school districts can request up to 14 months extension, on a case-by-case basis, for liquidation of funds. Funds must still be obligated by September 30, 2024, but approval of the extension would shift the spending/liquidation deadline from January 2025 to March 2026.

Administration

New Short Film on the Power of Summer Learning!

The Wallace Foundation released a short film that tells the story of how the two school districts are creating summer learning opportunities that blend academics and enrichment.

Youth Development

Understanding Gravity Activities!

This set of ten easy-to-understand activities from NASA uses math to understand gravity on Earth and in space. The activities are kid-centered and use math in an integrated format. 

Youth Development

Celebrating High School Innovators

The Celebrating High School Innovators (CHSI) competition identifies, fosters, and celebrates high school students whose contributions are exceptional and inspirational. Students in grades nine to 12 are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2024.
 
Future Founders Be Your Own Boss Internship!

Learn how to create and pitch your own business idea as a Be Your Own Boss Intern! Over four weeks, participants will get a crash course in entrepreneurship and work with teens from across the city to build a business of their own. There will be two cohorts of the Be Your Own Boss internship. The April Cohort deadline is March 29, 2024. The May Cohort deadline is April 26, 2024.