The question now: How to recover lost instructional time? School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an academic slide that educators rightly want to avoid in our seasonal exposure to hurricanes. The debate is not whether students should make up lost time — but how. And the education department is helping by allowing Florida’s individual school districts to recoup the time as they see fit.

The Eighth Annual Beach Ball raised more than $750,000 for the Y’s water safety and drowning prevention programs. Over the years, these funds have provided swim lessons and water safety education to more than 175,000 children and families in the community. Formal swim lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%.

Jacksonville teen Nico Flowers had a momentous weekend. He attended Game 2 of the World Series in Los Angeles, delivered the first-pitch ball to the mound and watched Ice Cube perform. He also received a $15,000 scholarship from Fox Sports, along with $5,000 for future leaders of his Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida home chapter at Ed White High School in Jacksonville.

While Congress is on recess this month leading up to the election in early November, three new bills were introduced over the past few months that could increase access to quality afterschool or summer learning programs.

There is a chalk art contest happening in Tampa Bay for students from Hillsborough and Pinellas County schools. Seven K-12 schools have been selected based on their online submissions to participate in the contest this Saturday.

Florida After School is teaming up with the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) to raise awareness about the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with a focus on reaching high school students and families in afterschool programs. Florida After School is offering mini grants for afterschool programs willing to organize one or more FAFSA workshops before November 30, 2024.

The 25th annual Lights On Afterschool was celebrated by afterschool programs and supporters nationwide. From Alaska to Florida, afterschool programs were hosting student art displays, STEM festivals, traditional cooking classes, scavenger hunts, student officer elections, and much more. Here’s our best effort to share a snapshot of the day – our top 10 highlights from Lights On Afterschool 2024!

The bipartisan Summer Meals Act (H.R. 9406) was reintroduced in the House in late August by Reps. Larsen (D-Wash.), Smith (R-N.J.), and Peltola (D-Alaska) and would reform and expand the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to increase access to the federal initiative that funds meals served by nonprofit organizations, school districts and public agencies to children during the summer months.

Welcome to our series on funding and sustainability for afterschool and summer learning programs! The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides states with flexibility in operating programs designed to help low-income families and children achieve economic self-sufficiency, including providing direct financial assistance to eligible families. But how can this funding stream help support, maintain, and expand out-of-school time opportunities which provide additional support for families?

Sports and extracurricular activities can help kids build a sense of community pride - and show them a better life is possible. Waianae Intermediate football coach Kaipo Hanakeawe stands just a few yards behind his quarterback at a recent practice, making sure linemen are hitting their blocks and the defense is executing its assignments.

Your local Coca-Cola bottler, Coca Cola Beverages Florida believes every student deserves equitable access and opportunity to education. The Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ will cover tuition and most local fees for economically disadvantaged students pursuing higher education at a Florida public four-year university, two-year college, or technical/vocational school.