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Upcoming Events:
December 2
Combating Childhood Obesity
Citizens Committee for Children of New York
New York, NY
December 2 – 4
Midwest Afterschool Science Academy
Kansas City, MO
December 3
Reframing Family Involvement: Supporting Families to Support Educational Equity
The Campaign for Educational Equity
New York, NY
December 3 – 4
2009 Youth Practitioner Summit
New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community
Albuquerque, NM
December 7
Improving Student Achievement Through Expanded Learning Opportunities
REL Midwest
Online
December 7 – 9
Youth Development Symposium
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
Chicago, IL
December 8
Making Connections Between the School Day and After-School
Connecticut After School Network
Online
January 24 – 27
Child Welfare League of America 2010 National Conference
Child Welfare League of America
Washington, DC
February 17
Beyond School Hours XIII – Expanding Foundations for Learning Conference
US Department of Education, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and Foundations, Inc.
Jacksonville, FL
February 18
Curbing Childhood Obesity: Lessons from the Six-City Community Wellness Project
National League of Cities
Teleconference
February 19 – 21
Annual Reaching At-Promise Students National Conference
Reaching At-Promise Students Association
San Diego, CA
February 22
2010 Beacons National Conference
Youth Development Institute
New York, NY
March 4 – 6
Promising Practices – Proven Strategies: Afterschool Programs Working for Pennsylvania's Youth
Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Center for Schools and Communities
Harrisburg, PA
March 11 – 13
Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial Meeting
Society for Research on Adolescence
Philadelphia, PA
March 16 – 19
2010 Tri-State Camp Conference
American Camp Association - NY
Atlantic City, NJ
March 24 – 27
National Service-Learning Conference
National Youth Leadership Council
San Jose, CA
JOBS @ TASC
Service Learning Technical Assistance Consultant
Programs Division
(PDF, 34 KB)
Policy Coordinator
Policy Department
(PDF, 32 KB)
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FEATURE
Thanks for Keeping it Going
It's one thing to tally the effects of the recession and budget cuts: after-school programs closed or shrunken, families added to waiting lists, trips and other motivational activities pared from program offerings. It's another to be the after-school educators who have to turn away kids and parents and retrench from making programs richer and more comprehensive.
In this season of thanks, we want to recognize after-school educators and managers who are squeezing their budgets until they squeak, still operating programs that support and inspire kids and build on the lessons of the school day.
The after-school workforce across America is more than a million strong. They're high school and college students in their first jobs, teachers and artists and coaches and youth workers. They're AmeriCorps members who are serving their communities and grandmothers returning to the workforce. More than ever this year, they're our heroes. We can't say it enough:
Thank you. And to all, a happy Thanksgiving.
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
New York State
For several weeks the New York State Legislature has been working with Governor David Paterson on his proposal to implement across-the-board, mid-year spending cuts to the current state budget. Youth development and after-school funding streams, including the Advantage After School program, the Extended Day/School Violence Prevention Program, the Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention Program (YDDP) and the Special Delinquency Prevention Program (SDDP), are facing cuts of as much as 10 percent. The YDDP and SDPP programs already have been reduced by 10 percent since last fiscal year.
Legislators are expected to reconvene in Albany on Monday to work on this proposal. Governor Paterson continues to state that unless mid-year spending reductions are implemented, New York State is in danger of being unable to pay its bills in coming months.
Take action and let your legislators know how important after-school programs are to communities in New York State. Send a message through the TASC Web site.
New York City
This week New York City Budget Director Mark Page asked the heads of all city agencies to propose cuts to their budgets for both this year and next. For this year's budget, agency reduction targets were set at 1.5 percent for the Department of Education (DOE), 2 percent for the uniformed services (including police and firefighters) and 4 percent for all other agencies including the Department of Youth and Community Development, which supports New York's after-school system. All agencies other than DOE and the uniformed services are targeted for 8 percent cuts in the upcoming fiscal year. Agency heads have until December 3 to respond.
The City Council is considering a Paid Sick Time proposal which would require New York City non-government employers to provide all workers, including those who work part-time, one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours they work. Under the proposal, workers can accrue paid sick time after they have been employed for 90 days, and can use paid sick time for a variety of permitted reasons including the care of others. TASC is monitoring the bill closely and working with after-school providers to determine how these rules would affect nonprofit after-school programs that employ many part-time workers, and must meet mandatory adult-to-child staffing ratios.
WHAT'S LUCY READING?
TASC President Lucy N. Friedman catches you up on her list of must-reads:
As I'm sure many of you did, I enjoyed reading about Sesame Street turning 40. All the coverage noted that Cookie Monster now includes fruits and vegetables in his diet and treats cookies as a "sometimes" food. If we needed any reminders of the long-term consequences of the spread of childhood obesity, last week retired military leaders issued this report noting that many young people who want to serve their country in the armed forces, cannot. One reason: 27 percent are too overweight to join the military. After-school educators are making great efforts to introduce kids to healthy cooking and provide regular fitness activities, even though many programs lack access to gyms or schoolyards. If he can get kids on track toward better health, I'm happy to take a little help from a reformed Cookie Monster.
What role do teachers play in helping their schools expand learning time? The Center for American Progress explored that question by profiling three traditional public schools that have implemented a longer day or year, and examining how teachers and teachers' unions collaborated with schools and districts. In the ELT programs TASC manages in New York City public schools, teachers are included from the outset in each school's planning team (along with parents, principals and community partners). Without a core of teachers providing input and feedback, schools cannot make the leap.
Living in New York City, it's easy to overlook the fact that one out of five kids in America attends a rural school. You can get a fascinating snapshot of rural education in your state by perusing this fifth biennial report from The Rural and Community School Trust. One interesting fact: the number of kids in New York State's rural schools who are English Language Learners is significantly higher than the national average.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Finish Line Youth Foundation Youth Participation Grants
Deadline: December 31
Grants are awarded to organizations that provide opportunities for youth to participate in athletic programs or camps.
Champions for Healthy Kids Grants
Deadllne: January 15
The General Mills Foundation supports community groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle.
American Association of University Women's Community Action Grants
Deadline: January 15
Community Action Grants are awarded to individuals, nonprofit organizations, and AAUW branches and AAUW state organizations to support innovative programs or research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Special consideration is given to programs focused on girls' and women's achievement in science, technology, engineering or math.
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge
Deadline: January 31, 2010 for elementary schools; March 15, 2010 for middle schools
This sustainability challenge requires groups of students to work with a teacher or mentor to identify an environmental issue in their classroom or school community, develop a plan, collect and analyze data, and share their results.
For the most up-to-date funding opportunities, be sure to visit the Youth Funders Database.
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