|
|
|
|
- March ISBE Board Meeting Recap
- Engage Every Student Recognition Program
- CLX May Meet-Up!
|
|
|
|
|
Did You See our Newest Blog Post?
|
|
|
Check out our blog post on Youth Voice and ACT Now's Youth Afterschool Ambassadors!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACT Now wants to continue to make the IL-QPSA process even better, so we’re asking all FY24 IL-QPSA participants to complete the IL-QPSA Evaluation.
|
|
Federal Updates
Urging Support for Afterschool and Summer Learning Funding in FY 2025
The Afterschool Alliance developed an action alert to urge Congress to support at least $2.09 billion for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers in the FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. Click here to take action!
State Updates
Week 3 Advocacy Actions: Urge Congress to Support OST!
ACT Now will be highlighting different advocacy actions our members can participate in for the next few weeks! Last week ACT Now shared an updated 21st CCLC advocacy resource! This week we are asking advocates to share our federal FY25 budget action alert! Our action alert asks Congress to:
- Provide $8.5 billion, an increase of $500 million over the FY 2023 level, for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG). This funding comes to Illinois in the form of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
- Support at least $2.09 billion for the Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC programs) in the FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.
- Allocate $200 million to Full-Service Community Schools, which is an increase of $50 million over the FY 2023 enacted funding level. This funding will help to provide comprehensive services that meet the holistic needs of children, families, and communities.
Illinois State Board of Education March Board Meeting Recap
On March 13, 2024, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) met for its monthly Board meeting. To access the recordings and meeting materials, click here. Public comment topics included:
- Concerns on the lack of public engagement in the revision of the state assessment process.
- The contract award to ACT for state assessment development
- The importance of social-emotional learning and Career and Technical Education (CTE) for students.
- A charter school renewal request.
- Funding to continue tutoring services established during the pandemic.
Board members then heard presentations from Effingham Unit 40 School District administrators who shared their strategic plan, highlighting a new logo, bringing in therapy dogs for students, providing meals, CTE experiences, and much more. The school district noted the need for increased funding to support day care, pre-K care, and students, and investments in infrastructure and staff. The Board then approved the release of all consent agenda and upcoming board actions for next month’s meeting. The next ISBE Board meeting will take place on April 17, 2023.
If you would like to provide public comment regarding the 21st CCLC funding issue at the upcoming ISBE Board meeting, please contact Emma Giamberdino (formerly Spencer) at SpencerE@actnowillinois.org.
|
|
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
April 3, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
21st CCLC Town Hall
April 18, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Evaluating Your STEM Program
April 23, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
21st CCLC TA: Capacity Building and Team
April 24, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Illinois Community Schools: A Community in Practice
April 30, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
|
|
External Events
April 3, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
ICOY GREATER IL: Trauma-Informed Supervision
April 8, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Empowering Young Creators with Design Squad Latinx
April 18, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
The 2024 Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Symposium
- April 16, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Illinois Conference Center
- May 8, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Elgin Community College
|
|
|
Administration
Rural School Districts’ Pandemic Relief Spending on OST
This new fact sheet developed by the Afterschool Alliance takes a closer look at how rural school districts have allocated their pandemic relief funds toward afterschool and summer programming.
Afterschool and Summer Workforce Solutions Database
Use this searchable database to learn about local, state, and national practices that help to contribute to a thriving OST workforce.
Youth Development
Focusing on Cultural Competency in STEM Education
This brief provides five strategies, or steps, to become more culturally competent in STEM education.
|
|
Administration
Project Brainy
Project Brainy is a six-session neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Summer and fall OST programs are invited to apply to participate in a research project to study the implementation of the curriculum. Selected programs will receive training and ongoing support on the curriculum and a $1,500 participation stipend. Learn more and apply here.
Engage Every Student Recognition Program
The Engage Every Student Recognition Program aims to recognize non-profit organizations that engage K-12 students in high-quality afterschool or summer learning programming. The entire application must be submitted through the online submission form. The deadline to submit nominations is April 10, 2024.
CLX May Meet-Up!
The next Chicago Learning Exchange May Meet-Up will be on May 16, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Library Center. This is a great place to connect with other OST providers and hear updates on what is happening in the field.
Family and Community Partnerships
Greater Bronzeville Roll Call CommUNITY Gathering
Greater Bronzeville and South Lakefront Youth Serving Organizations are hosting a Community Roll Call gathering on May 2, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mandrake Park! Attendees will have the opportunity to share updates about their organizations and learn about resources, events, and programs that are available within the Greater Bronzeville network.
|
|
Inclusive Summer Jobs Expo for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, The Department of Family and Support Services, and One Summer Chicago are hosting the Inclusive Summer Jobs Expo on April 20, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Central West Community Center (2102 W. Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL)! Complete the RSVP form by April 13, 2024.
|
|
|
Youth Development
Teen REACH NOFO Released!
The Illinois Department of Human Services is seeking applications from public or private not-for-profit organizations to provide community site Teen REACH services. Teen REACH is a youth development initiative that provides afterschool program services to high-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 17. The average award amount is between $90,000 to $360,000. Applications are due May 1, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
