The Iowa Children's Museum Online FunLAB: Tips for Providing Virtual and Collaborative Programming
Join us for the next virtual quarterly STEM Learning Community Discussion on Thursday, April 14, 2022 from 1-2 p.m. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge to informal educators by limiting how we can serve the community. In this workshop, we will share with you what we have learned about how to navigate virtual programming in order to make it engaging for any age audience. We will also share how we have pivoted to offer collaborative programs with community organizations. Bring your programming questions and possible collaboration questions and we will do our best to address them!
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Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week:
April 25-29
Celebrate Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week with us April 25-29, 2022. This week is a time to recognize, appreciate, and advocate for those who work with young people during out of school hours. We appreciate all of your hard work to make programs accessible to youth across the state of Iowa.
Use this toolkit to share your appreciation for those that work with your programs and shine a light on why it is important to have afterschool programs. Celebrate your efforts and accomplishments!
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Global Youth Service Day is April 29 - May 1
Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world and the only one that celebrates and builds the capacity of all youth ages 5-25 to help our communities and democracy thrive by working together for the common good. Volunteer Iowa is hosting two sessions with this goal in mind. One session will be for schools on how to create a meaningful silver cord program. Additionally, they will be hosting a professional development session for high school students, college students, and AmeriCorps members on how to leverage volunteer experience on resumes and/or college applications and navigating careers related to service. More details on both sessions to come.
In addition, the sessions are aimed at supporting youth volunteering. Volunteer Iowa has launched a community of practice on service-learning for schools, nonprofits, youth, and afterschool organizations to join and learn more about service-learning. They will be sharing resources to assist organizations in service-learning, as well as hoping to connect you with others and learn from each other. Join here!
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Iowa Afterschool Alliance News |
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AmeriCorps Summer Ladders Applications Open
Know someone interested in working with a summer learning program? AmeriCorps Summer Ladders applications are now open. The Summer Ladders AmeriCorps members will help build capacity of summer programs by developing and facilitating new, high quality activities that promote increased social, emotional, math, science, and reading proficiency. Members are placed in summer learning programs across the state and serve from the end of May through mid-August. Summer Ladders members receive $4,000 in stipends for living expenses over the summer and a $1,300 education award that can go towards qualifying loans or current educational expenses upon completion of their term of service. Check out a brief description of the position here, but note that these vary slightly depending on the program. Please contact Britney Appelgate at bappelgate@sppg.com for questions or more information.
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Power of Us Workforce Survey: Calling All Youth-Serving Professionals and Volunteers
Every person who works with young people is committed to helping them thrive. On athletic fields, in afterschool programs, in libraries, in faith-based institutions, youth-serving professionals and volunteers are making a difference every day. Through the Power of Us Workforce Survey, youth-serving professionals and volunteers can contribute to a national effort to explore, define, and elevate their profession. Take the survey today!
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Biden Administration Release FY 2023 Budget to Increase Afterschool Funding
In March, the Biden administration released its FY 2023 discretionary budget request, coming just weeks after Congress finished work on the FY 2022 spending bill. With regard to afterschool and summer learning support, the proposal asks for a $21 million increase for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), which would mean $1.31 billion in funding for local afterschool and summer learning programs. The proposed budget includes historic funding levels requested for full-service community schools and Title I, which provides funding to high poverty schools.
This year, to address entrenched disparities in education, the administration is again proposing a $36.5 billion investment in Title I grants which is a $19 billion increase from the 2022 enacted level. According to the Biden administration, this investment would provide historically under-resourced schools with the funding needed to deliver a high-quality education to all of their students. Among the allowable uses for Title I, funds can be used by high-need school districts to support afterschool and summer learning programs. Learn more here.
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White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship Nominations
The White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship develops emerging policy leaders with policy and advocacy-related knowledge and tools in the field of afterschool and expanded learning. Please consider nominating an individual who will help advance the policy work of the Network. The Fellowship will begin in late summer with pre-work and pre-reading. The 2022-2023 Wite-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellowship fall intensive will take place at Furman University in Greenville, SC, on these dates: Sunday, September 11 through Friday, September 16. The fellowship will meet monthly for webinars and gather in the spring 2023 at the 50 State National Network conference in D.C.
The deadline for nominations is May 15th, 2022. For more information about nominating and application forms click here.
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Challenge America: National Endowment for the Arts
Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to populations that are underserved. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater. Applications close April 21, 2022.
Learn more and apply here.
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Youth Service America's 2022-2023 Partner Grants
Youth Service America’s 2022-2023 Partner Grants seek to engage 50+ students in service or service-learning activities. With generous support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, YSA will award Afterschool Grants of up to $500 each to support youth-led service or service-learning opportunities in up to 60 afterschool programs. Afterschool coalitions or multi-site programs are encouraged to apply and may be eligible for multiple grants. Applications close May 20, 2022.
Learn more and apply here.
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A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction Toolkit
The Pathway to Equitable Math Instructions Toolkit was created to help educators develop an anti-racist, culturally responsive math practice. It offers “an integrated approach to mathematics that centers Black, Latinx, and Multilingual students in grades 6-8, addresses barriers to math equity, and aligns instruction to grade-level priority standards. This resource is divided into five strides and recommends starting with “Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction.”
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Remembering the Child: On Equity and Inclusion in Mathematics and Science Classrooms
The diversity of learners in today's classrooms forces teachers to rethink how they teach and what they teach on a regular basis. Thinking of a healthy ecosystem as an analogy to a healthy learning environment allows us to look at classrooms from an inclusive perspective. The North Central Regional Education Laboratory (NCREL) addresses equity and inclusion in STEM classrooms as a critical issue in a paper that includes six effective practices for equity.
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Engineer for the Week
Meta’s Engineer for the Week demystifies engineering for learners historically underrepresented in STEM and inspires them to use technology for social impact. The program introduces learners to the power of STEM and provides a pathway for them to create real impact in their communities. Click here to learn more about this free STEM program and how to become a facilitator.
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Professional Development Opportunities |
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Libraries are instrumental in bringing high-quality STEAM experiences to their communities. Join us Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. to learn about resources and opportunities specifically designed for libraries. In this webinar, we are joined by representatives from NASA's Universe of Learning, The National Citizen and Community Science Library Network, and Leap into Science who will share about resources and opportunities that support STEAM programming at libraries. Register today!
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Millions of urban children and teens lack access to afterschool programs that provide rich opportunities for growth, learning and fun. One possible solution is to coordinate the work of programs, government agencies, private funders and others involved in afterschool programs—that is, build an afterschool system that is greater than the sum of its parts. Key components of afterschool systems include efforts to improve program quality and collection of data to inform decision-making.
Browse reports and other resources the Wallace Foundation provides for insights into making high-quality afterschool programming more readily available to urban young people.
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2022 BOOST Conference
BOOST Collaborative will host their annual BOOST Conference on April 26-29, 2022, in Palm Springs, CA.
Join the largest, most recognized, and comprehensive global convening for after school, expanded learning, and in and out-of-school time professionals. Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this annual, extraordinary event will rejuvenate your passion, boost your direction for quality programming, and provide tools and resources that will inspire you to create change.
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Education Program Manager
State Public Policy Group (SPPG) is accepting applications for an Education Senior Program Manager. SPPG is looking for an organized self-starter with passion and experience in education and/or youth development. Join SPPG in serving the interests and well-being of the community through our issue-based projects and solution-focused clients. Learn more about the position and how to apply here!
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Out of School Time Professional Development Center
The Out of School Time Professional Development Center provides Out of School Time training to OST professionals. The classes provide in-depth curriculum and certificates. If you or your staff are interested in signing up for courses visit the Out-of-School Time website. Check out the entire course catalog here.
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Great Content on Y4Y!
You 4 Youth is a free online professional development site that is designed to support 21CCLC program staff but is a valuable tool for any afterschool professional looking to build their skills! Recently, Y4Y has rolled out a whole module on literacy. Click here to register.
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Afterschool Alliance Webinars
The Afterschool Alliance offers webinars on a wide range of topics, from policy and the new Every Student Succeeds Act, to STEM and Social-Emotional Learning. Find out more on their webinars website.
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Iowa Child Care Training Registry
Find professional development for school-age programming on the State of Iowa Child Care Training Registry on topics ranging from health and safety to developmentally appropriate programming. Find out more online.
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National AfterSchool Association PD Resources
NAA provides afterschool professionals with resources to stay up-to-date on the latest topics in afterschool and summer learning. Find out more on their website here.
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Resources for STEM Programming
The Center for the Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) provides background information that is useful for the development of STEM programming. Find out more on their website.
The Afterschool Tech Toolkit aims to empower afterschool professionals and educators with strategies and training so they can provide students with access to technology outside of classroom hours. It includes training modules on getting started, training staff, accessing technology, and devices, and more. Take a look at the toolkit here.
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Subscribe to the IAA Afterschool Advisor
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THE IOWA AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE IS HERE FOR YOU
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