Iowa Afterschool Alliance News | |
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STEM AmeriCorps Program Host Site Interest Applications
Applications are now open to Iowa-based afterschool learning programs that want to enhance their capacity to develop high-quality programs that promote STEM learning amongst students of color in Iowa. STEM programs will consist of innovative and tailored approaches that adhere to the Dimensions of Success (DoS) observation tool, a nationally recognized, best practice framework used to track the quality of learning opportunities such as the Iowa Afterschool Alliance's AmeriCorps Program.
The cost-share to host a Member (the amount you will be responsible for as a host site) is $6,141 for the entire program duration, September through June which will amount to 900 hours of service. From September through June, AmeriCorps members will each receive a stipend of $8,600 and upon completion of service an education award of $3,247, the equivalent of $13.16 per hour.
Complete the short survey to tell us about your program and express your interest in the STEM AmeriCorps Internship 2022-23. The Iowa Afterschool Alliance will consider all interested programs and make our decision for host sites by early August 2022. In August, there will be an informational webinar for these selected host sites to learn more about the program and have their questions answered.
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America After 3PM
Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children’s Well-Being is the fifth report in a series of publications that examines findings from the 2020 edition of America After 3PM, a pre-pandemic national household survey of more than 31,000 parents of school-age children. It takes a closer look at parents’ perceptions of afterschool programs, their priorities for their children, and whether, prior to the pandemic, afterschool programs were supporting the healthy development of the children they serve and were positioned to do so going forward. This report also tracks changes over time, comparing 2009, 2014, and 2020 America After 3PM survey results to identify gaps in supports and areas of opportunity for policymakers and communities to ensure that young people have the necessary resources to persevere through the pandemic and emerge on the other side healthy, happy, and hopeful. Read the full report here.
Check out the America After 3PM Data Dashboard here!
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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. Click here to take the survey today!
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Safer Communities Act
On June 24 . in response to horrific episodes of gun violence ravaging our nation, the House passed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act by a vote of 234 to 193 after the Senate passed the bill the preceding evening. A group of 20 Democratic and Republican Senators, led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX), led the bipartisan legislation. The Act includes gun safety measures, mental health support investments, and school safety provisions that aim to prevent or address gun violence, including $50 million for 21st CCLC and $1 billion for Title IV Part A competitive grants.
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Iowa Legislative Updates
HF2198 Signed into Law - The law modifies the number of children that can be cared for in 2-year-old and 3-year-old classrooms and changes the minimum age requirements of staff in child care centers. This law took effect on July 1, 2022.
Iowa Child Care Assistance Program - Recent changes to the Iowa Child Care Assistance program. The legislation took effect on July 1, 2022.
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Iowa Women's Foundation: Building Community Child Care Solutions
IWF is currently accepting Letters of Interest (IOIs) for the upcoming Building Community Child Care Solutions (BCCCS) fund grants. This fund is in its 6th year and to date has awarded $190,000 to programs that have increased the number of child care spaces throughout Iowa. The BCCCS focuses on strategies to increase women's economic security by decreasing the workforce gap through access to quality, affordable child care.
Interested applicants may submit Letters of Interest (LOI) detailing the project they wish to be considered for funding. LOIs must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm July 29, 2022. All LOI's will be reviewed, and each applicant will be notified by September 1 of their status. Those moving to the next round will be asked to complete a more detailed application. Selections will be made in November. Recipients will be invited to a check presentation in January. Funding is to be used in the 2023 calendar year.
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Association of American Educators Foundation Classroom Grant Application
Classroom grants of up to $500 are available to all full-time educators who have not received a scholarship or grant from AAE in the past two years. Classroom grants can be used for a variety of projects and materials including, but not limited to, books, software, calculators, math manipulatives, art supplies, audio-visual equipment, and lab materials. Funds must be used within one year of the application deadline. Applications are due October 1, 2022.
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Inventors and Inventions
It was exactly 53 years ago astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin made history when they became the first human beings to set foot on the moon. This month the Million Girls Moonshot commemorates that “giant leap for mankind” as it remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements. We look to the future, to the next generation of engineers and scientists. What will be their “giant leap”? And most importantly, how do we as Networks, partners, and program providers, support young people on their journey in STEM?
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Engineering Mindsets
What STEM Mindset Is … and Why Everyone Should Have One - This article describes how 21st century skills, growth mindset, and habits of mind all contribute to a STEM mindset.
DiscoverE | Engineering activities for kids, resources for teachers and volunteers, and more! - Build a beverage holder that won’t hurt the environment, learn about the many careers in engineering, and meet an engineering role model in a short video.
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Family Engagement
Engaging Families in Mathematics Education - Families are a child’s first educator and this role does not halt on day one of school. Families lay the foundation for future educational success. Researchers have identified four best practices for engaging families effectively in mathematics education.
Community Math Night Facilitators’ Toolkit - The Appalachia Regional Education Laboratory (REL) developed this toolkit to help K–5 elementary school educators plan and implement the Community Math Night program to engage families in interactive math activities, build positive math attitudes, and create a community of educators, students, families, and other caring adults to support math learning. The toolkit includes planning and organizational resources, relevant research, and step-by-step instructions and printable materials for the interactive activities.
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Activities for Programs
After-School Science PLUS - Download Building with Wonderful Junk and take the challenge! Build a bridge or a platform that meets a set of requirements and test it. Challenge your kids to add to the activity (For example build a bridge that will hold a student up 6 inches from the floor).
Design A Crew Module - Use materials that are easy to find at home to build a crew capsule for spaceflight. Practice the engineering design process to improve on the original design. Grades 4-8.
Straw Towers to the Moon - Let your kids’ imaginations run wild. Build the biggest tower, or the best balanced, or the most attractive…change the criteria to change the design. Grades K-8.
Landing Humans on the Moon Educator Guide - These easy to do activities for grades K-8 use engineering design process to problem-solve solutions for survival on the moon.
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Meet IF/THEN Ambassador Dana Bolles
Dana Bolles began working for NASA in 1995. The first 13 years of her career were as an engineer in regulatory compliance, from payload safety to environmental protection, and she worked at 3 centers: Kennedy Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Ames Research Center. Her most recent opportunity, communicating NASA’s exploration of life beyond Earth, added another center under her belt, NASA Headquarters. Dana’s diverse work experience has given her a great appreciation not only for the programs/projects side of NASA, but also for the mission support functions. In addition to her official duties, Dana volunteers for employee resource groups for women, people with disabilities, and LGBT communities. She is a firm believer of the value of diversity and is committed to raising awareness, especially of the unique challenges people with disabilities face in their daily lives. She also has a passion for outreach, encouraging youth, especially girls, to excel and be their best in life. Dana has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and lives with her partner Shelly and their cats in San Francisco. Learn more about Dana Bolles here!
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Mizzen By Mott Moonshot Connection | |
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The Mizzen By Mott app delivers inspiring and engaging activities that spark learning in young people. Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Encourage partners to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access STEM activities at your finger-touch! You’ll find it in Mizzen here.
Featured Activities & Playlists
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Playlist: STEAM Activities for Middle School at home
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Playlist: STEM Activities for K-5th Grade
- Balloon Rockets Challenge
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Professional Development Opportunities | |
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Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers 2022 Summer Symposium July 19-21, 2022
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) announced the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) 2022 Summer Symposium. This event, hosted by OESE’s Office of School Support and Accountability, will convene virtually on July 19-21, 2022. This year’s theme is “Strong You, Strong Me, Strong Community.”
The Summer Symposium features successful strategies that state education agencies (SEAs) and their grantees can use to implement and manage all components of a 21st CCLC program. Attendees will hear from nationally recognized speakers during plenary sessions and work closely with education experts and peers during interactive workshops. SEAs and grantees will gain valuable perspectives on afterschool issues and receive important updates about the 21st CCLC program. To learn more about the summer symposium here.
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DOS Program Planning Tool Training
The DoS-PPT is a free resource for facilitators of out-of-school and in-school STEM
learning programs. The planning tool provides a brief introduction to each
dimension of the DoS framework, sample videos, and examples to guide the use of
DoS when preparing activity plans for youth. During this training, participants will:
1. Develop high-level understanding of the DoS Framework, dimensions of quality
2. Working with the PPT learn how to plan high quality STEM learning experiences using the DoS Program Planning Tool
3. Work with the newly revised DoS Program Planning Tool to identify and plan for high-quality program and activity planning practices.
Dates & times are: August 2nd & 4th from 1:00-2:30pm *attendance required for both days. Click here to register.
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Take a Deep Dive into each Engineering Mindset Practice with Dr. Christine Cunningham in this Three-part Webinar Recording
Christine Cunningham is a Professor of Practice in Education and Engineering in the College of Education whose work aims to make engineering and science more relevant and equitable, especially for populations underrepresented and underserved in engineering and science. She aims to create a next generation of innovators and problem solvers by developing research-based and field-tested engineering curricula and professional learning resources for preK-12 education.
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Click2Engineering Community of Practice
This community of practice is a component of Click2Engineering, an asynchronous, module-based online professional development program for after-school educators. Participants in this community of practice get to be a part of developing future learning experiences and will have special access to existing Click2Engineering resources, including new curriculum and one-on-one coaching opportunities! Online meetings will include learning, working with materials, reflection, and sharing your ideas with others. You will grow your understanding of engineering and increase your confidence and ability to lead engineering sessions with youth. Submit an interest form here.
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National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment: Strengthening the Out-of-School Time (OST) Workforce: A Guide to Developing Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are industry-driven career pathways that combine classroom instruction, on-the-job training (paid work experience), and mentorship, generally leading to a nationally recognized credential or degree. They are gaining momentum in Out-of-School Time (OST) as an alternate career pathway that supports equity in the workforce. In this guide, you will learn why apprenticeships are a useful strategy for OST staff, programs, and field leaders. The guide also identifies challenges to address and explores key elements of an apprenticeship program and promising practices. Click here to view the guide.
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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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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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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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THE IOWA AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE IS HERE FOR YOU
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