State Updates

FY24 State Budget Agreed Upon and Passed in Illinois General Assembly

On May 28, 2022, the Illinois General Assembly passed a $46.5 billion state budget plan (SB0250) for FY24. The state budget will include:

• $17.82 million for Teen REACH. This is a $1.1 million increase in funding over the current funding level! While this is exciting, there remains a need for significant investment to ensure the expansion of the grant program.
• $25 million for the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) After School Programs grant. This is an increase of $5 million dollars over previous funding levels for the program.
• $5.0 million for After School Matters. This is a $1 million increase over the current funding level for After School Matters.
• $17 million for Freedom Schools. This grant program is administered by ISBE.
• $8.27 billion for evidence-based funding (EBF). This is the first time the funding line has received an increase (of $350 million) and aims to support K-12 schools across the state.
• $1.689 billion for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). This is level funding.
• $5 million for the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA). $228 million will be reappropriated as this grant program spans several fiscal years. This funding is administered to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and will be used to provide funding for youth development opportunities and violence prevention services in areas across Chicago and the state with high rates of firearm violence.
• $202 million for the Restore. Reinvest. Renew (R3) Grant program. This is a $200 million increase over the current funding level! This funding is administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) and supports youth development programs across the state.
• $5.5 million for YouthBuild Illinois. This program supports low-income youth and young adults 16 to 24 years of age who have dropped out of school and are unemployed and/or have limited job skills.
• $2.5 million for the School STEAM Grant Program, administered by ISBE. While school districts receive this funding, programs may access these dollars via partnership.
• $9.11 million for afterschool program funding from COVID state funding appropriated to ISBE. We are unclear if this is funding to support 21^st CCLC including FY19. 

Administrators

Engaging Families in OST Programming 

You for Youth recently released a virtual course on how to engage families in programming. After the learning module, you will be able to describe the known benefits of engaging families, identify strategies for effectively supporting all types of families, and identify the important steps for planning and implementing family engagement activities.

Join NASA Connects!

Stay connected with NASA this summer by joining NASA CONNECTS. This community provides access to resources such as the latest NASA updates, exclusive events, and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded educators.

Inviting Elected Officials To Your Camp Guide!
 
This toolkit from the American Camp Association has everything you need to successfully invite an elected official to your camp and manage their visit. Inviting elected officials to camp is a great relationship-building and press event for your camp, and this toolkit will help you do it successfully!

Statements on COVID and Summer 2023

Youth Development

Mizzen Summer Camp!

These !Mpact Players activities from Mizzen promote cooperation, encourage friendly competition, and build a foundation for lifelong friendships for your youth and staff!

Boosting Civic Engagement!

A new report from the Learning Policy Institute called State Support for Civic Engagement, examines how 10 states across the country are implementing policies that support a new approach to civics education that engages students in civic engagement. 

The U.S. Department of Education is seeking talent from student performing artists who may be involved in summer learning and afterschool programs to be considered for events at the U.S. Department of Education, including events for the Engage Every Student initiative. There is no deadline for submissions.

Mayor's Youth Commission Application is Open

The Mayor's Youth Commission is a group of up to 32 Chicagoans between the ages of 14 and 19 that serve as a liaison between the Chicago Mayor's Office and Chicago's youth. The Commission meets monthly to amplify youth voices to impact the City's policy conversations. Applications are due by July 1, 2023. 

The 2023 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is open!

The Afterschool Alliance's The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is officially open, and this year they are looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. All poster entries are due July 10, 2023. Voting will take place from July 11, 2023, to July 13, 2023, on Facebook and Instagram.