April 9, 2025

This is your weekly newsletter featuring program spotlights, innovative resources, and training opportunities for the out-of-school-time industry in Florida. Together, we can ensure all children and youth in Florida have access to affordable, available, high-quality expanded learning opportunities to foster their success in school and beyond.

The 2025 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is open!

The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is officially open, and this year, we’re looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. This includes murals, paintings, graphics on social media, and anything else that celebrates afterschool.


The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is a great opportunity for an afterschool program to gain national recognition for the opportunities it offers. The winning artist will be featured on our website, blog, and a national press release, and their afterschool program will be credited on the poster in addition to receiving the grand prize of $500!  

Learn More

If you have an idea for an afterschool spotlight or would like to be featured, email Holly to help share your story!

What happens when kids get time off and parents don't?

Over the next few weeks, millions of kids around the country will come home from school, toss their backpacks in a corner, and begin an annual ritual that can be fun, relaxing, stressful, and confusing all at the same time.

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Lawmakers and coaches advocate to increase pay for Florida high school coaches

While state lawmakers are working to increase pay for Florida teachers, a new effort is being made to do that for coaches, too. The idea is to help address the coach shortage in the Sunshine State. Florida is last in the nation for compensating high school football coaches, paying them between $3,000 and $6,000 a year.

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Channel 9′s Kirstin Delgado highlights the growth of ladies in STEM in Central Florida

STEM is a growing field that is attracting more women. This program helps girls build confidence, gain new skills, and realize that a future in tech is not only possible but exciting. One of the most powerful aspects of the Tech Sassy Girlz program is its emphasis on mentorship and real-world experience.

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Destin's Mac & Cheese Festival raised $60,000 for Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast announced that the seventh annual Mac & Cheese Festival, held March 16 at Destin Commons, raised $60,000 to support youth programs across the region. Proceeds from the event will help fund programs focused on academic success, character development and healthy lifestyles for more than 5,000 youth annually.

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LEARNING FROM OTHERS: TSC's Stronger OST Initiative Expands Career Pathways & Mental Health Support for Students

TSC is proud to announce the launch of the 2024-2025 STRONGER OST Initiative. This initiative is designed to empower students in grades 9-12 through workforce training and mental health support, made possible through funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

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School superintendents say summer programs are important to achieving districts' goals

Based on responses from 421 school superintendents, conducted between November 12, 2024, and January 20, 2025, the study sought to understand the role superintendents believe summer programs play in their districts and the types of summer opportunities available through districts. This snapshot of the current state of summer learning reveals several key takeaways, including:

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Call to Action: Sign the 21st CCLC Organizational Support Letter for FY 2026!

Please consider having national, state, or local your organization sign onto a letter to congress urging more funding for the 21st CCLC! Thank you for your continued and essential support of afterschool and summer learning programs. Please ensure you have authorization from your organization to sign onto this letter.

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Empowering economic growth through STEM education in Southwest Florida

As Southwest Florida sets its sights on continued growth over the next several years, the need for a much larger workforce also continues to grow. In Lee County alone, over 200,000 jobs will need to be filled in the next three to five years, according to the latest projections.

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Florida's financial literacy law is a gift to younger generations

Poor financial literacy plagues all generations but younger ones in particular. The number of U.S. adults with poor financial literacy jumped from 20% in 2017 to 25% in 2023 — with Gen Z and Gen Y reporting the lowest financial literacy rates, according to the website Moneyzine.

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Unlocking Change: Share Your Out-of-School Time Story to Inspire Transformation

As funding decisions loom, sharing personal stories and highlighting the positive impact of afterschool programs is essential in making lawmakers understand their value. Together, let's ensure our leaders prioritize funding for these vital initiatives.

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Fund Afterschoool and Summer in FY 2026 | Make your voice impossible to ignore

Congress is starting work on their fiscal year 2026 spending bills. The Administration recently issued an Executive Order proposing to dismantle the Department of Education. Now is the time to emphasize for your Senators and Representative how important continued support for afterschool and summer learning is, and share why your local afterschool and summer learning programs are so vital to your community. 


SIGN & ADD YOUR VOICE!

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Featured Resource: Access Florida's Premier Character Education Curriculum for FREE

Charity for Change, a Florida-based nonprofit, offers an award-winning character education curriculum designed to boost academic performance, improve behavior, and build resiliency in youth. Through interactive activities, students explore critical character traits like kindness, responsibility, and respect—while developing empathy through community involvement.

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START PLANNING!

Celebrate Afterschool Professionals April 21-25, 2025!

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (APAW) is a time to recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people during out-of-school hours. The week is marked by celebrations, public relations, and advocacy efforts encouraging appreciation and support for afterschool professionals who make a profound difference in the lives of youth.

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Register Here

Afterschool Alliance: Policy Pulse

Webinar: Friday, April 11 at 12PM


Every second Friday at noon ET, our own Senior VP of Policy, Erik Peterson, will recap the latest policy developments, what we know (or don't know!) about how they may impact afterschool and summer programs, and what may be coming up next. Submit your questions in advance so we know what's top of mind for you.

Register Here

ACRES Coaching Resources Info Sessions

Info Session: Wednesday, April 16 from 11:30AM-12:30PM


The ACRES project is thrilled to usher in an exciting new chapter. Starting in mid-March, we'll be offering all of our STEM coaching materials for FREE-giving leaders like you the tools and resources to keep reflecting on the STEM lessons offered at your sites and within your programs. ACRES and its team of coaches have already made a lasting impact, with educators across 50 states embracing these tools and strategies.

Watch the Recording

Leveraging Youth Sports to Support Positive Youth Development- Afterschool Alliance

Watch the Webinar Recording


Physical activity has the power to unlock transformative benefits for young people-fostering connections with peers and caring mentors, improving mental health and mood, boosting academic performance, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Out-of-school time programs that incorporate sports are uniquely positioned to create supportive environments where youth can grow, thrive, and realize their full potential. See how these programs have successfully integrated sports into their programming and hear strategies for implementing or enhancing sports programming to support positive youth development.

Register Here

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a course for participants 18 years and older who want to learn how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. This course is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, including parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens.

Registration Now Open!

CALLS TO ACTION

RESOURCES

GRANTS

Florida After School, Inc. | FLafterschool.com

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