2023 ND Legislative Session: Ways to Stay Informed

North Dakota's 68th Legislative Assembly begins Regular Session on January 3, 2023. With early childhood and school age care being the center of attention across the state, the ND Afterschool Network has created resources to support afterschool and summer learning programs to stay informed and advocate for the important work you do to positively impact ND's children, families, and communities.

ND Afterschool Policy Newsletter: January - April, 2023

Request to be added to our policy-focused e-newsletter to receive updates on meetings, bill tracking, and other matters related to afterschool and summer learning programs. Sent weekly during the 2023 ND Legislative Session, you'll find updates, links to upcoming meetings, and ways to stay informed.

ND Afterschool Day on the Hill: February 22, 2023

Afterschool and summer learning programs from across ND serving students in grades PreK-12 are invited to Afterschool Day on the Hill at the Capitol Complex in Bismarck on February 22. Travel reimbursement is available on a first come, first serve basis. Register your program today!

Watch for a special edition e-newsletter later this month with an Afterschool Advocacy Toolkit and the ND Afterschool Network's Policy Recommendations.

Power of Us 2022 Workforce Survey

Share Your Experience Working with Youth

Millions of professionals and volunteers work with young people every day. Yet, we have limited information about this essential workforce.

We want to know more about those who are still in the youth fields and those who left, so that we can explore, define, and elevate this collective workforce and their work with youth. The information from this survey can also lead to action, informing policy, practice, and further research to better support the workforce.

Through the Power of Us Workforce Survey, you can contribute to a national effort to explore, define, and elevate your work with youth.

Take Survey

Afterschool Grants & Funding Opportunities

USDA Farm to School Grant: USDA seeks to award up to $12 million to expand access to local food in eligible schools. Schools and school districts, CACFP and Summer sponsors, Indian tribal organizations, state and local agencies, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. Applicants may apply for grants up to $100,000 in one of five grant tracks. Applications due by January 6, 2023.

ALDI Cares Community Grants: Community grants range from $100 to $5,000 and fall under the following: Children's Health & Wellness, Food Insecurity, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Organizations will be asked to apply under the ALDI division closest to their location. Applications accepted ongoing through December 15, 2022.

Girls Who Code: Start a free Girls Who Code Club and enroll 3 or more members this school year to be eligible to receive up to $300 for materials and supplies for your club. Clubs are free programs for 3rd-5th and 6th-12th grade students to join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models using computer science to change the world. Clubs are completely free and offer fun activities through a flexible curriculum that adapts to your unique needs. Clubs can take place afterschool, on weekends, or during the summer, and they can be held in-person or online.

ND Arts in Afterschool Funding 2022-23 Accepting Applications!

The ND Afterschool Network, in collaboration with ND Council on the Arts, is pleased to offer funding to afterschool and other out-of-school time programs ranging from $500 to 2,000 to increase opportunities for students across North Dakota in grades K-12 to engage in arts programming during the 2022-23 school year.

Applications will be funded on a rolling basis based on proposal and funding availability. Click below for full requirements, activity ideas, and a link to the application.

Learn More

Million Girls Moonshot Feature - Ready, STEM, Go!

Deepen Your Afterschool STEM Facilitation Skills

ACRES: Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM is offering the upcoming cohort to help afterschool educators build and deepen STEM facilitation skills.

Asking Purposeful Questions - registration code AC284PQ

Meeting Time: Thursdays from 5:30 - 7:30pm CT

January 5
January 19
February 2

More Info

Creating an OST Makerspace Training Module

The You for Youth's (Y4Y) newest microlearning opportunity, Creating a Makerspace: Training to Go , provides out-of-school time programs with tools to develop an effective makerspace by understanding OST learners, evaluating existing program offerings and school-day curricula, considering global trends and best practices, developing a theme, and gathering resources. Y4Y is a free online professional learning and technical assistance portal for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers and is an open resource.

Learn More

Upcoming Trainings & Events

NESC ConnectEd lessons are offered live through Zoom on Tuesdays from 3:45 - 4:15pm CT. Each session is designed for the K-2 or 3-8 grade span and includes a community teaching partner who provides an engaging experience for your learners. If you can't connect live, you can access the archived lesson recordings or facilitator materials to use at a different time.

With support from the ND Afterschool Network, all afterschool programs throughout the state are welcome to join lessons at no cost!

2022-2023 NESC ConnectEd Live Lesson Schedule is now live and includes the following upcoming lessons:

December 6, Grades 3-8: ND Afterschool Network / Gateway to Science
December 13, Grades 3-8: ND Council on the Arts / Visual Arts: Nicole Gagner
December 20, Grades K-2: ND Afterschool Network / Gateway to Science

Learn More

Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training

December 6 | Virtual

Question, Persuade, Refer is an evidence-based suicide prevention protocol, also termed as a gatekeeper training, with a mission to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. Multiple session dates are available and FREE to any interested educator. Learn more.

ND Afterschool Professional Learning Community

Monthly, September 2022 - June 2023 | Virtual

Framed by the ND Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs, each of these monthly, virtual sessions will have a timely, focused topic and allow for time to share experiences, build networks and connections with other OST professionals across the state, and assist you to engage in continuous quality improvement efforts. Access session recordings and register for upcoming sessions here.

December 14: Youth Voice (Focus: Youth-Centered Program Design)

ND Afterschool Day on the Hill

February 22, 2023 | Bismarck, ND

Join the North Dakota Afterschool Network for Afterschool Day on the Hill in Bismarck on February 22 from 10:30am - 1:30pm at the Capitol Complex in Bismarck. We invite afterschool and summer learning programs from across ND serving students in grades PreK-12, staff and students to attend this event to showcase your program and have a chance to interact with ND legislators and state education representatives. Travel reimbursement is available on a first come, first serve basis. Register your program today!

Ready, STEM, Go! : Inspirations and Resources for Out of School Time

March 14 & 15, 2023 | Virtual

A national alliance of statewide afterschool Networks, including the North Dakota Afterschool Network, is partnering to host a two-day virtual conference, shining a spotlight on resources, strategies, and inspiration to boost out-of-school time (OST) STEM programming! Save the date! Registration info coming soon.

ND Out-of-School Time and Early Childhood Summit

August 1 & 2, 2023 | Fargo, ND

Save the date! Registration info coming early 2023.

Our Mission

We equip North Dakota afterschool programs with the tools and support to expand program quality, build leadership capacity, and ensure access to afterschool programs for all youth in their community.