Iowa 21st Century Community Learning Centers RFA |
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Funding Available!
The Iowa Department of Education has released the FY22 21st Century Community Learning Centers Request For Applications (RFA). New this year, the application will be submitted through an online platform. Click the button below to see the full application.
The Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Afterschool Alliance will be offering virtual technical assistance sessions this fall to help with application writing on November 4 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Meeting ID: 577.413.5846
Password: iowa
For phone: 60277
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Peer Reviewers Needed!
Recommendations for 21CCLC funding are made to the Iowa Department of Education through a peer review process. The Iowa Afterschool Alliance is seeking peer reviewers from across the state to help determine which applications are funded. Peer reviewers are provided a stipend and compensated for travel to the Des Moines area. If you are interested in being a peer reviewer, please contact Crystal Hall at chall@sppg.com.
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Afterschool Staffing Shortages |
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance is planning a statewide conversation about the staffing shortages that programs are facing. This meeting will feature best practices and innovative solutions for staffing that help address these issues. If your program is implementing a unique model to hire and retain staff, please reach out to the IAA at chall@sppg.com, so that we can learn more. Stay tuned for more details on this statewide conversation.
In the meantime, if you are struggling with hiring staff, take a look at the new Afterschool Staff Recruitment Toolkit that the Afterschool Alliance has created. The toolkit features tips, sample language, graphics, and more that programs can use.
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You're Invited: Virtual STEM Learning Community Discussion |
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Join us for our next virtual quarterly STEM Learning Community Discussion on Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 1:00-2:00. Jessica Schellhorn with the Blank Park Zoo will be presenting on inventive ways to bring outdoor exploration indoors as we approach our winter months. We will also have time to network with others on the call about all the great things you are doing at your sites with STEM. This is a great way to share successes and work through obstacles as well as accessing resources. Register for the event here, and don't forget to visit the STEM for Iowa website for great resources and lesson plans.
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Celebrate with National Network for Lights On Afterschool |
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Thank you to all celebrating in Lights On Afterschool leading to, on and following the designated day of national recognition for afterschool programming. The State of Iowa joins by proclaiming October 28, 2021 to officially be "Lights On Afterschool Day." You’ll see how the Iowa Afterschool Alliance is participating on our Facebook and Twitter – and tag us to let us know you’re participating, too!
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OST Career Pathways Corner: Iowa Career and Technical Education |
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The Iowa Department of Education’s Bureau of Career and Technical Education released a report last spring highlighting the Condition of Secondary Career and Technical Education in Iowa. This report is full of great information for any out-of-school time program hoping to better align with the school day and provide connections to career pathways interesting to youth. Read the report here.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion |
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White House Report on Best Practices for Diversity & Inclusion in STEM
The FC-STEM Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM (IWGIS) issued a report regarding inclusion in STEM fields across the Federal government, with a focus on identifying research, best practices, and policies on how to promote diversity and inclusion of all groups in the Federal STEM workforce, including women, people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and persons with disabilities. The report can be useful in other sectors as well.
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Professional Development Opportunities |
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2022 Beyond School Hours Conference
Foundations, Inc. is hosting their annual Beyond School Hours conference this upcoming February in Orlando, Florida.
Foundations, Inc.’s mission is improving the quality of education for our nation’s children by strengthening the skills of educators. We know the Beyond School Hours conference is a great way for all professionals, no matter the role or workload to come and invest in their professional learning through hands on, engaging workshops, networking events and strategies that will benefit and develop their skill sets! Did we mention free swag, cocktail hours and enjoying special magic Disney discounts?
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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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Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) Prizes and Scholarships for STEM Students
Check out this grant opportunity for middle and high school aged youth! The Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) strives to inspire the next generation of engineers and technicians to join the aerospace industry. The challenge is an extracurricular, hands-on, project-based learning program incorporating aerospace-specific science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Teams of three to 10 students design, build and fly a rocket. Each year a unique task is included in the challenge.
Eligible applicants are public, private, and independent schools; homeschools; and nonprofit youth or educational organizations. There is no limit to the number of teams from a single institution that can register. Team members must be students currently enrolled in grades 6-12. Applications must be submitted online.
A pool of over $100,000 in prizes and scholarships is awarded. Apply now here, or by contacting:
Team America Rocketry Challenge
1000 Wilson Blvd. Ste. 1700
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: 703.358.1033
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Student-Led STEM Grant Opportunities |
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Unfold the Universe Art Challenge
Stars, galaxies, nebulae – oh my! What will NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveal when it peers back through 13.5 billion years of time? Create, using any form of art, what you think the Webb Telescope will discover for a chance to be featured on NASA's historic launch broadcast. Join the #UnfoldTheUniverse Art Challenge today. The deadline for submissions is December 18, 2021.
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Opportunity for Youth
NASA and Future Engineers are challenging young innovators to help design a new robot concept for an excavation mission on the Moon. The Lunabotics Junior Contest is open to K-12 students in U.S. public and private schools as well as home-schoolers. Entries are due January 25, 2022.
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