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Upcoming Events:
November 9 – 10
Changing the Odds: Learning from the Harlem Children's Zone Model
Harlem Children's Zone
New York, NY
November 9
Aligning the Learning Day: Collaboration Strategies for Principals and Afterschool Program Directors
National Association of Elementary School Principals
Casper, WY
November 13 – 14
NJSACC's Annual After-School Conference
NJSACC
Princeton, NJ
November 14
2009 Annual Arizona State Afterschool Conference
Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence
Mesa, AZ
November 14
Connecticut After School Network Annual Fall Conference
Connecticut After School Network
Farmington, CT
November 16 – 18
International Bullying Prevention Conference
International Bullying Prevention Association
Pittsburgh, PA
November 19
Philadelphia Out–of–School Time Resource Fair
Out–of–School Time Resource Center
Philadelphia, PA
November 21
Building Connections: Oregon After-School Conference
Oregon Parks and Recreation Association and OregonASK
Salem, OR
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 – 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
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
JOBS @ TASC
Service Learning Technical Assistance Consultant
Programs Division
Part-time Program Specialist, Literacy Programs
Programs Division
Program Assistant
Research Department
Policy Coordinator
Policy Department
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FEATURE
New Survey Shows More Kids Home Alone
The number of kids left home alone or unsupervised after school has risen to 15.1 million, the Afterschool Alliance's latest national survey of after-school participation reveals. In addition, the parents of more than 18 million kids said they would enroll their children in a program if one were available to them. Both findings reflect significant increases in demand for after-school experiences, compared to what the Alliance found in a survey five years ago.
New York ranked third in the report's "Top 10 States for Afterschool" list. Roughly 21 percent of New York children are enrolled in after-school programs, compared to 15 percent of kids nationwide.
The survey, sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, has spurred headlines across the country, including this editorial in The New York Times and this clip on NY1.
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
New York State
On October 15, Governor David Paterson announced plans to implement across-the-board spending reductions to the state budget this school year, during the current fiscal year. Major funding streams for services to young people are facing cuts of between six and 10 percent. These include the Advantage After School program, the Extended Day/School Violence Prevention Program, the Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention (YDDP) program and the Special Delinquency Prevention Program (SDDP). The YDDP and SDPP programs already have been reduced by 10 percent since the last fiscal year.
Take action to prevent more kids from losing their programs by writing to your Assembly Member and State Senator. To find out how, please visit the Policy and Advocacy page on the TASC Web site.
The potential cuts to after-school programs mean further hardships for families of kids who attend programs that are reeling from recent city and state budget cuts. TASC and the Partnership for After School Education (PASE) surveyed more than 100 organizations that offer comprehensive New York City after-school programs this past summer. We found they are facing hard times:
- More than half (56 percent) of after-school organizations have sustained budget cuts this year
- Some 40 percent of organizations are serving fewer kids and families this year than last, increasing unmet needs
- Nearly half of after-school organizations are cutting jobs, creating unemployment at all staff levels from group workers and activity specialists to program administrators and data, research and human resources staff.
To learn more about the survey, please visit the TASC blog.
WHAT'S LUCY READING?
TASC President Lucy N. Friedman catches you up on her list of must-reads:
We're doing a lot of thinking at TASC about how to build on the after-school infrastructure to expand summer learning opportunities to kids in all sorts of community and school settings. This paper from The Wallace Foundation, by Brenda McLaughlin and Sarah Pitcock of the National Summer Learning Association, surveys the landscape and provides great material for anyone who's thinking about how to build quality into emerging summer programs.
I agree with much if not all of what Laura Vanderkam suggests in this provocative opinion piece that raises doubts about how many kids are seriously over-scheduled. I second what Professor Joseph Mahoney of the University of California/Irvine suggests: that it's unlikely that the great number of kids who have no after-school activities are spending their time in creative play and exercise. Instead, he calls TV-watching "the dominant activity."
I was glad to see this report from the Center for Arts Education – showing that New York City high schools with the highest graduation rates also offer kids the most arts education – get some attention. But if you're wondering why sustained arts education might lead to improving kids' overall cognitive abilities, it's worth reading the explanation in this paper published by The Dana Foundation.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
2010 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards
Deadline: November 20
The 2010 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards will recognize up to four New York City area nonprofit organizations for excellence in organizational management. The awards aim to honor management excellence and to encourage innovation among members of the nonprofit community.
Responsible Sports Community Grants
Deadllne: November 30
Nonprofit youth sports organizations or educational athletic programs can become eligible for grants by asking coaches and parents to complete the "Responsible Sports" online coursework. Organizations must serve the community at large and be open to the general public.
Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Deadline: December 1
This public health initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will support projects that improve the health of children and communities. Funded projects will focus on obesity, physical activity and nutrition among young people and will address tobacco prevention and control.
Richard Riley Awards
Deadline: December 1
The American Architectural Foundation, in partnership with KnowledgeWorks Foundation, honors school buildings that serve as centers of their community by providing a rich array of social, civic, recreational and artistic opportunities to the public.
Home Depot Foundation Building Healthy Communities Grant Program
Deadline: December 15
The Home Depot Corporation seeks to improve the physical health of communities by supporting organizations that are planting trees, developing green spaces, and updating school facilities and community centers.
For the most up-to-date funding opportunities, be sure to visit the Youth Funders Database.
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