Afterschool Advocate Page 1

Volume 12, Issue 10, October 18, 2011

AFTERSCHOOL: THE SEED FOR TURN THE LIGHTS ON FOR STEM TO GROW AFTERSCHOOL THIS WEEK This Thursday, Blowing things up to learn what it means October 20, to be an engineer. Cooking with pros to learn Friendship chemistry and math. Creating a mock crime Fountain in scene and using new technologies as you Jacksonville and investigate and find the culprit. LOVE Fountain in The afterschool arena is uniquely suited Philadelphia will for fun and engaging projects like these, be lit up, children which provide engaging, educational, hands- holding candles on lessons in science, technology, engineering will illuminate the and math (STEM), according to a new report Battleship in released by the Afterschool Alliance at a La Porte, Texas, Capitol Hill briefing for policy makers in and the La Grande September. Vitesse sculpture in Grand Rapids, Afterschool programs also reach female will be lit with multi-colored lights. These and minority students, who often are left are just a few of the 7,500 Lights On behind in STEM learning, with these Afterschool events that will take place in activities. “Girls meet real-life scientists and nearly every community in the country and at engineers, and they realize that science is not U.S. military bases worldwide this week. just for geniuses. They build relationships A million people are expected to join these with these adults and can see themselves in events, which will feature children’s these careers,” said Connie Chow, Ph.D., performances, youth art exhibits, science Executive Director of the Science Club for experiments, robotics demonstrations, sports Girls at the congressional briefing. “The tournaments, spaghetti dinners, and much nimbleness of afterschool to quickly adopt more. This year marks the 12th annual Lights STEM curricula makes it an ideal On Afterschool, organized by the Afterschool environment, and helps bridge the ability and Alliance. confidence gap we often see in students.” For the fifth year in a row, the Empire State In addition to Chow, the briefing featured: Building will be lit up in yellow to Fernando Laguarda, Vice President for commemorate Lights On Afterschool. This External Affairs and Policy Counselor, Time year, as part of the “Light Up a Landmark” Warner Cable; Bronwyn Bevan, Ph.D., contest sponsored by jcpenney and the Director, Center for Informal Learning and Afterschool Alliance, 17 other landmarks across Schools, Exploratorium; and Anita the country will also be lit up in support of the Krishnamurthi, Ph.D., Afterschool Alliance afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire Director of STEM Policy, who led the report. them to learn and help working families. They The briefing was sponsored by the House and are: Senate Afterschool Caucuses. STEM continued on page nine… Lights On continued on page eleven… Afterschool Advocate Page 2 OUTREACH

As reported in the Afterschool Advocate (Volume 12, Issue 9), the U.S. Department of Education put afterschool funding at risk in September when it released a waiver package that allows states to bypass some of the legislative requirements of No Child Left Behind. The Administration offered states the chance to set their own student achievement goals and interventions for low-performing schools. States that apply for and are granted waivers will be exempt from ten of the law’s requirements.

In addition – and most troubling to the educators, students, parents and others who rely on afterschool programs – the Administration offered states the chance to apply for an optional eleventh waiver that would allow them to use 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) funds to add time to the regular school day, rather than to support afterschool programs.

Last week, at least 39 states notified the Department of their intent to apply for the waivers. Now, the afterschool community is urging State Education Agencies (SEAs) not to apply for the optional eleventh waiver, and not to divert afterschool funds if they do. For a list of SEAs, click here.

Following is a sample email message to send if your state is one of them:

Dear [Name]:

I was dismayed to see that the U.S. Department of Education offered states an optional waiver to divert 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) afterschool funds as part of its No Child Left Behind waiver package. Since not a single public letter from a state complained of burdens related to 21st CCLC, it was a gratuitous and unjustified move for the Department to include this option, and one I hope you will reject.

Here in [your city], [number] of students and families rely on the [name of your program] to keep children safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. I am proud that every afternoon, we offer students [homework help, tutoring, healthy snacks, physical fitness, STEM activities, and opportunities for hands-on learning that are not available during the regular school day]. We keep children safe and supervised until parents return from work by offering enriching activities in conjunction with community-based partners, taking care to align our activities with the schools to ensure that students get the help they need most. The activities we offer are both educational and fun.

To divert afterschool funds to much more expensive extended day programs would mean students in many more communities unsupervised and at-risk after the school day ends, working parents in many more communities without the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their children are safe, and more students in many more communities missing out on hands-on opportunities to learn.

If our state apples for the waiver, I urge you to reject the optional eleventh waiver and instead continue using afterschool funds for afterschool and summer learning programs. I am available at your convenience to discuss this further and look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, [Your name, title, program and phone number]

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Afterschool Advocate Page 3 FUNDING NEWS

The Afterschool Alliance’s website has numerous resources for afterschool providers looking for new ways to raise money for their programs, including tips for initiating relationships with funders and businesses, and for identifying funding opportunities.

GRANTS/AWARDS AVAILABLE

Scholarships to Study Abroad The U.S. State Department is sponsoring merit-based scholarships for older youth to study foreign languages and cultures overseas. The National Security Language Initiative for Youth sponsors the study of seven critical languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian or Turkish. The deadline for the 2012-2013 school year is November 3. For more information, click here.

Grants for Service-Learning State Farm and Youth Service America are sponsoring grants of $1,000 for activities that engage youth from public schools in service-learning projects. Projects that begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16, 2012) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 20-22, 2012) are preferred. The deadline to apply is November 9. For more information, click here.

Grants for MLK Day of Service Youth Service America and the Corporation for National and Community Service are sponsoring grants of $4,000 for projects that engage youth and their families in community service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 16, 2012). Projects should address education, health, the environment, economic opportunity, or disaster relief. The deadline to apply is November 18. For more information, click here.

Grants for Youth Gardens The National Gardening Association and Home Depot are sponsoring awards for schools and community organizations to create gardening programs in their communities for children between the ages of three and 18. Five programs will receive gift cards valued at $1,000 to purchase materials for their gardens, and 95 programs will receive a $500 Home Depot gift card. The deadline is November 28. For more information, click here.

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Afterschool Advocate Page 4 MIDDLE SCHOOL – THE RIGHT issues. These issue briefs feature: the TIME TO ADDRESS AND importance of aligning afterschool with the PREVENT BULLYING school day; bullying awareness and prevention; service learning opportunities for

middle schoolers; and literacy education. The Afterschool Alliance has released a Read the new Issue Brief on bullying here. new MetLife Foundation Issue Brief examining how afterschool programs can address and prevent middle school bullying.  In recent years, several highly-publicized incidents – including extreme forms of THREE RURAL OK TEENS WIN teasing, physical beatings and bully-induced TORANI ART CONTEST suicides – have raised the national profile of bullying and middle school students are For the first time ever, three talented particularly vulnerable. Middle school youth young artists were chosen from the same are undergoing physical, social and emotional state, town and afterschool program as transitions, making these years crucial to winners of Torani’s national Art for Kids promoting healthy youth development. label design contest. This fall, Torani Cherry, Afterschool programs that provide access Raspberry and Sugar Free French Vanilla to caring adults and offer a more informal Syrups will sport new, limited-edition art environment that is distinct from the school labels designed by students from Stratford day allow children to feel safe from peer SAFE Bulldog Academy afterschool program pressure, build confidence and learn how to in Stratford, Oklahoma. The ninth-graders’ deal with bullies. Skilled programs around artwork was selected from hundreds of entries the country are aiding in the effort to stop submitted by afterschool students around the bullying and teach children that aggressive country. The winning selections were and detrimental behaviors should not be taken celebrated at a pizza and Italian soda party lightly. sponsored by Torani at their afterschool “Afterschool programs, with their unique program last month. position as a less formal and more open Torani, the number one specialty syrup in learning environment, can provide middle North America, will donate five percent of school youth with the knowledge and sales of Torani Raspberry and Torani Sugar attitudes necessary to combat bullying both in Free French Vanilla with limited edition school and online, leading to healthy youth labels from September through December of development and a happier generation of this year to the Afterschool Alliance. Five students,” the Issue Brief says. percent of sales from the third student The Brief offers statistics on the winner’s cherry blossom art, on Torani’s prevalence of bullying and examples of Cherry Syrup, will benefit children’s relief afterschool programs across the country that programs in Japan following the tsunami. are addressing the issue and encouraging pro- The winners are Haven Prine for the social behaviors. Raspberry Syrup label, Brook Minor for the This Brief is part of a series of Issue Sugar Free French Vanilla label and Rachael Briefs examining the vital role played by Jones for the Cherry Syrup label. At the time afterschool programs. It is sponsored with the contest was held this spring, the three generous support from the MetLife youth were in eighth grade and attending an Foundation. It is the second in a series of four afterschool program run by Afterschool Issue Briefs examining critical issues facing Ambassador Laticia Wade. middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these

Afterschool Advocate Page 5 “Torani is in its seventh year of 20 AFTERSCHOOL LEADERS partnership with the Afterschool Alliance to CHOSEN AS ‘AFTERSCHOOL sponsor the Art for Kids contest for AMBASSADORS’ afterschool students, and year after year we are amazed and impressed by the results,” The Afterschool Alliance announced the said Lisa Lucheta, Torani principal and selection of 20 afterschool providers and family-owner. “Torani has a long history of advocates from around the nation to serve as bringing splashes of color and creativity into 2011-2012 Afterschool Ambassadors earlier people’s everyday lives. We are thrilled that this month. The 20 local leaders hail from 17 Art for Kids and our partnership with the states. Each Ambassador will continue Afterschool Alliance allows us to brighten directing or supporting a local afterschool many more lives, and helps young people program while also serving a one-year everywhere participate in exciting, colorful Afterschool Ambassador term organizing experiences after the school day ends.” public events, communicating with policy “It is unfortunate that many schools have makers, and building support for afterschool had to cut back on the arts and limit creative programs. opportunities for students. Afterschool “Quality afterschool programs are programs have always embraced the arts, invaluable to students, families and supplementing programs in school,” said communities,” said Afterschool Alliance Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Executive Director Jodi Grant. “These Grant. “Sadly, recent cuts have meant that, in programs keep kids safe, help working many school systems, afterschool programs families and inspire students to learn. But in are one of the few outlets left to nurture the , D.C. and all across the country, creative talents of students. That is why we the afterschool programs that families rely on are especially happy to be able to partner with are being threatened by budget cuts and Torani on Art for Kids. These colorful labels efforts to divert afterschool funds to other provide an extraordinary venue to showcase programs. We need to spread the word about the talent nurtured in afterschool programs the urgent need to make opportunities to each day. This contest and Torani’s attend afterschool programs available to all remarkable generosity support afterschool children who need them. Each of these 20 programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to Afterschool Ambassadors brings great skill, learn and help working families.” energy and talent to that work. I look forward The rural Stratford SAFE afterschool to working with each of them to build even program serves approximately 150 students in stronger support for afterschool programs kindergarten through eighth grade, offering among parents, business and community tutoring and homework help, arts and crafts leaders, lawmakers and others. We are proud enrichment, computer courses, golf, archery, to have them on our team.” forensic science, music lessons, aerobic dance This year’s class of Afterschool and core training and more. Ambassadors is the 12th group selected for Torani’s Art for Kids contest supports the honor. Past Ambassadors include a afterschool programs. Click here to view a variety of state and local afterschool leaders – video about the winners. more than 150 in all who are still active in the

field.  The 2011-2012 Afterschool Ambassadors are:

Afterschool Advocate Page 6  , Loxley: Cherry Penn, Program at Lehigh Carbon Community Afterschool Childcare Program College; Supervisor, 21st CCLC;  , Spartanburg: Greg  , Santee: Pamela Brasher, Tolbert, President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Director, Out-of-School Time Programs; the Upstate;  Tampa, : Ralph Smith, Executive  , Chattanooga: James Director, Computer Mentors; McKissic, Chief Operating Officer, Urban  Hawaii, Honolulu: Paula Adams, League Chattanooga; Program Manager, Fun 5 Program;  Washington, Tacoma: Noah Prince,  , Orland Park: Priscilla Partnership Administrator, Tacoma 360; Steinmetz, Founder & Executive Director, and The Bridge Teen Center;  , Racine: Katherine  Kentucky, Corbin: Karen West, Special Dunkerson, Director of Extended Day Projects Curriculum Supervisor, Programs and Community Engagement, Redhound Enrichment and Corbin Racine Unified School District. Independent Schools;  Michigan, Saginaw: Christine Benecke, The Robert Bowne Foundation is Program Director, Youth First; sponsoring the Ambassadorships of  Montana, Havre: Tim Brurud, Club Deepmalya Ghosh and Esther Grant-Walker Director, Boys & Girls Club of the Hi- of ; and Bright House Networks is Line; sponsoring the Ambassadorship of Ralph  Montana, Libby: Kaide Dodson, CCLC Smith of Florida. Afterschool Coordinator and Enrichment More information on the new Afterschool Coordinator, Libby High School; Ambassadors is available here.  , Faribault: Lisa Wetzel, Kids World School Age Child Care;   , Bristol: Elizabeth Colby, Extended Learning/Afterschool IN THEIR OWN WORDS… Director, Newfound Area School District;  New York, New York: Esther Grant- “The afterschool arena is often less structured Walker, Afterschool Program than the regular school so therefore there’s Coordinator/Director of School Age more freedom and more flexibility to do Programs, Isaacs Center Afterschool interesting, creative things with kids that you Program; might not be able to do during the typical  New York, Jamaica: Deepmalya Ghosh, school day… An essential aspect of changing Director of Youth Development academic outcomes is changing the attitudes Programs, Child Center of NY; of kids towards learning. If kids have become  , Durham: Michelle so turned off that they basically have given Gonzales-Green, Executive Director, up, that’s what we have to change. How do SeeSaw Studio; you get people to not give up? Not just by  , Etters: Thierry Malley, pushing harder, but by enticing them into State Program Director, PA Area Council learning again.” of Boys & Girls Clubs; -- Pedro Noguera, Ph.D., professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and  Pennsylvania, Nesquehoning: Jeanne Human Development at New York University Miller, Director of Carbon and Schuylkill and executive director of the Metropolitan County Education Services, SHINE Center for Urban Education, Development

Afterschool Advocate Page 7 Without Limits’ Please Speak Freely podcast, “I really like to work with kids because June 14, 2011 they’re so full of energy.”

Voices from the Afterschool Storybook… Georgia – An afterschool program designed “Although I have just completed my second to teach middle-school girls healthy lifestyle year of teaching, I like to think my career habits has expanded to include a popular really began eight years ago when I was dance exercise program, the LaGrange Daily assigned to work for the 21st Century News reports. Zumba, a fast-paced, Latin- Afterschool Program at Hanshaw Jr. High… inspired dance, is now offered two days a The 21st Century Program did so much for week. The funds to purchase sound and video my future and for the future of the students equipment and provide certification for who experienced the program. It was more teachers came from a local organization, than afterschool tutoring and recreation. We Heart of West Georgia, which works to raise developed entities at our program that brought awareness of cardiovascular disease, women’s culture, self-esteem, happiness, life-skills, and health and childhood obesity. “Everyone can support to so many children. For some, we do it,” teacher Rebecca Mitchell said. were the only the positive adult figures in “There’s no messing up. You just keep their lives. I was so lucky to be there. I moving, and you’re getting exercise.” worked with people who loved children and truly cared about their well-being. I will – The Prince George’s County never forget my experiences at Hanshaw. Policy Department’s Gang Unit recently Through them, I learned the real life issues donated 50 unclaimed bicycles to an involved in teaching.” afterschool program at the Latin American -- Gloria Hernandez, Modesto, CA Youth Center in Riverdale, where students will restore the bicycles and get a chance to To read the story by Gloria, and read more keep them. The bicycle program, which afterschool voices from across the country, started two years ago, partners AmeriCorps click here. Share your story here. members and students from the University of  Maryland to teach the students the basics of  bicycle repair. “The bikes are a very  attractive hook to get these youths interested IN THE NEWS… and have them interested in our other programs,” Luisa Montero, director of the California – Ten students outran the world’s Maryland branch of the Latin American fastest man in an event last month designed to Youth Center, told the Washington Post. raise money for the Los Angeles STAR “While we have them, we’re also working on afterschool program. Three-time Olympic their academic skills, helping them with their champion Usain Bolt raced students in 100- homework and providing some job-readiness meter dashes around a makeshift track at skills.” Greystone Park before signing autographs and taking pictures with students and chaperones. New York – A new playground in Skiddy One of Bolt’s sponsors had pledged to donate Park is guaranteed to be just what the children $10,000 to his child-focused foundation for of Syracuse want, because they had a say in each student who beat him to the finish line planning it. Students in the PEACE Inc. and and to help him set up an athletic competition Imagine Syracuse afterschool programs for the STAR program, the Los Angeles Times participated in a planning session with the reports. “For me it’s a lot of fun,” Bolt said. firm designing the new park, offering suggestions – from the practical to the

Afterschool Advocate Page 8 implausible. The students did coloring has received a raised garden bed and new exercises, voted on equipment they liked and kitchen equipment from local nonprofits and came up with park rules. A professional firm private partnerships. will incorporate their feedback into the design, ahead of the instillation in late  October, the Post Standard reports. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS Pennsylvania – Teenagers in Erie are AGREE – AFTERSCHOOL learning how to S.A.I.L., staffing sailboats PROGRAMS RAISE STUDENT around Lake Erie and learning other maritime ACHIEVEMENT skills like boat-building and maintenance. But between sailing 42-foot tall boats, Four in five elementary and middle school students at the Bayfront Maritime Center’s superintendents across the country (82 Project S.A.I.L. (Successful Apprenticeships percent) agreed that educational programs and Investments in Learning) also are beyond the traditional school day are not only working on their resumes, doing SAT prep important, but improve learning and social and participating in mock job interviews. The interaction and are highly successful at six-week afterschool program uses hands-on supplementing in-class curriculum. experience to teach entry-level job skills to Those are among the findings from a teenagers, ages 15 to 18. recent survey by extended learning provider Champions® and the National AfterSchool South Carolina – A one-of-a-kind Association, which underscores the afterschool program in Charleston that importance of out-of-school time programs to teaches emotion skills will expand to another students. city, thanks to a $1 million donation from a The survey found that an overwhelming board member and a multi-year, $4.5 million majority of elementary and middle school fundraising campaign. The WINGS for Kids superintendents agree on the benefits students program, which has served 3,500 students receive from attending an afterschool since it began in 1996, teaches students how program: to control their tempers, deal with nerves and  improving in-classroom academic make good choices, the Associated Press performance (93 percent); reports. Although the program has not  improving in-classroom engagement (92 selected the city to which it will expand, percent); leaders hope to be operating in at least two  increasing social interaction skills (92 elementary schools in the chosen city by next percent); fall.  improving study skills (87 percent); and  improving test scores (86 percent). Washington – A culinary program at the Bainbridge Island’s Boys & Girls Club The phone survey was designed and continues to be one of its most popular analyzed by Ketchum Global Research afterschool choices, the Associated Press Network and fielded by Braun Research. It reports. Many students don’t help cook at reached 100 superintendents or home, program leaders say, so learning how associate/assistant superintendents from June to cook in the afterschool environment 30 to July 18, 2011, and has a margin of error teaches them new skills and introduces them of +/-9.77 percent. Read more about the to new foods, while reinforcing math skills survey here. when taking measurements for recipes. The community has also supported the program; it 

Afterschool Advocate Page 9 HELP NAME A SPACECRAFT STEM continued from page one… Connecting STEM Afterschool to NASA is looking for help from students in Tomorrow’s Workforce grades K-12 to rename two robotic spacecraft STEM Learning in Afterschool: An orbiting the moon. The two ships – currently Analysis of Impact and Outcomes finds that named Gravity Recover and Interior reforms in formal K-12 education are Laboratory (GRAIL)-A and GRAIL-B – took necessary to fully address widely recognized off last month from Cape Canaveral, on a shortcomings in STEM subjects – a gap that three-and-a-half month mission to learn more jeopardizes United States competitiveness about the moon’s composition and to create a with more STEM-savvy countries. But, the gravity map. report notes, children in the U.S. spend less Students must submit a justification for than 20 percent of their waking hours in the names they pick, and final judging will be school, leaving untapped opportunities for chaired by former astronaut Sally Ride and supplemental STEM learning. GRAIL principal investigator Maria Zuber, a At the briefing, Bevan summarized the researcher at the Institute of research being conducted in this area, noting Technology. that children’s experiences outside the school Submissions must come from a student’s day can have a tremendous influence on teacher, using an online submission form. The whether a child will stay in STEM or leave. deadline is November 11. For more Furthermore, researchers are showing that information, click here. envisioning oneself in a STEM career early is a better predictor than grades of whether a  student will pursue a STEM-related career, she said. FILL UP ON NEWS AT Laguarda explained that businesses such AFTERSCHOOL SNACK! as Time Warner Cable care about STEM education because of the importance of How successful is afterschool in engaging STEM skills to their workforce. “We need a youth in STEM activities? How can population that is trained, STEM-competent afterschool programs access funding to and STEM-literate. This is about partnerships provide meals? Who won the national Lights and re-thinking how we can approach On Afterschool poster contest? Find out all education. No one can do this alone. The this and more in recent Afterschool Snack private sector has a tremendous opportunity to posts, some examples below include: step up.” At Time Warner Cable, employees are  New York Times Gathers Opinions on Longer encouraged to think of themselves as “STEM School Day Connectors” and to take time to mentor youth.  Guest Blogger Andee Press-Dawson: “We have learned through our afterschool California Launches The STEM In Out Of STEM work that there is a real spark and School Initiative engagement when you teach kids in a  Digital Badges For Lifelong Learning Bring compelling way that is outside of the 21st Century Knowledge To Social Networks classroom,” Laguarda said. Time Warner Cable is the sponsor of Connect A Million And be sure to tune in every Wednesday Minds, an initiative that encourages for a national news round-up, and throughout mentoring in STEM fields. the week for your daily dose of afterschool. “It’s crystal-clear that a more STEM- Check out Afterschool Snack here. literate citizenry and workforce are crucial to  the future competitiveness of the United

Afterschool Advocate Page 10 States,” Afterschool Alliance Executive had an increased interest in STEM careers; 89 Director Jodi Grant said. “And it’s equally percent reported increased self-confidence; clear that a STEM-literate workforce will be and 70 percent had an increased motivation to even stronger when it is more diverse. do well in school. What’s been less clear until now is how to get In the second category – increased STEM to where we need to be with STEM learning. knowledge and skills – the report focuses on This report lays out solid examples that evaluations of nine programs that use the demonstrate the invaluable role afterschool afterschool setting to cultivate skills such as programs can play in moving the country problem-solving, critical thinking, forward. Afterschool programs give students communication and collaboration. These are the chance to build robots, explore the stars, crucial to the knowledge-based jobs of the learn how plants process sunlight and what present and future. Project IT Girl’s makes airplanes and rockets fly. They have evaluations, for example, showed that 82 time to try, fail and try again. Much of that percent of participants were more confident in isn’t possible during the regular school day.” gaining high-tech skills; and 79 percent Utilizing evaluations from afterschool gained a better understanding of STEM- STEM programs throughout the United related careers. States, the report identifies trends and In the third category – increased outcomes that demonstrate the significant and likelihood of graduation and pursuing a specific contributions afterschool programs STEM career – evaluations of STEM are making to STEM education. programs show that participants are more likely to pursue higher education and study Evaluating Afterschool’s Contribution to STEM fields. Tracking students long-term, STEM the report notes, is a resource-intensive The Afterschool Alliance’s review of approach that only a few programs can afford. evaluations found that high-quality STEM The ACE Mentor Program for example, afterschool programs yielded STEM-specific which had 61 percent minority participation benefits in three broad categories: improved in 2008-2009, conducted a survey of 933 attitudes toward STEM fields and careers; alumni in 2009. ACE students who were increased STEM knowledge and skills; and seniors in high school in 2009 graduated at a increased likelihood of graduation and rate of 97 percent compared to the 73 percent pursuing a STEM career. national graduation rate as reported by the In the first category – improved attitudes National Center for Education Statistics; and toward STEM fields and careers – researchers 66 percent of alumni from the ACE program have shown that an early interest in STEM are studying architecture, engineering, subjects is a better indicator than grades of construction and the skilled trades, or are whether a student will pursue a STEM-related already working in one of these fields. career. An early interest is also necessary to The report concludes that, although more motivate students to develop the knowledge outcome studies and impact data from STEM and skills required to pursue more rigorous afterschool programs will help clarify these math and science courses in high school. promising trends, existing data already show For example, FIRST surveyed participants that the afterschool setting is playing a key from 1999 to 2003 in New York and Detroit, role in supporting STEM learning. Future finding that 80 percent of respondents STEM education policy, the report says, reported increased understanding of the role should include afterschool as a key science and technology play in everyday life. component of STEM education reform Eighty-six percent reported an increased efforts. interest in science and technology; 69 percent

Afterschool Advocate Page 11 To learn more about STEM in afterschool, activities that affect afterschool programs, visit the Afterschool Alliance’s special STEM examine the need in each state for these website. programs, offer tips to parents seeking afterschool programs for their children, and  suggest ways that all state residents can support afterschool. Lights On continued from page one... On Thursday, click here to see the  Arizona, Lake Havasu City. Lake Havasu progress report from your state. City London Bridge; At all the Lights On Afterschool events,  California, Compton. Civic Center parents, kids, educators and others will urge Monument; lawmakers not to deny or divert crucial  Florida, Jacksonville. Friendship federal funds from the afterschool programs Fountain; that families rely on.  Florida, Viera. Kennedy Space Center NASA Rocket Garden; Texas 5th Grader Wins 2011 Lights On  Kentucky, Monticello. Hot Air Balloon; Afterschool Poster Contest  Michigan, Grand Rapids. La Grande A talented ten-year-old has designed Vitesse Sculpture; artwork that will be featured at thousands of  Minnesota, Duluth. Enger Tower; Lights On Afterschool events around the  , Gulfport. Biloxi Town Green; country. Nicole Tanner of Haltom City,  Montana, Great Falls. Historic Tenth Texas – a student at the Birdville Independent Street Bridge; School District’s After School Program  , Newark. Newark Courthouse, Chase Inspiring and Reinforcing Education (BISD Bank Tower and Longaberger Basket; ASPIRE) – won the national contest to have  Oklahoma, Del City. Del City Neighborhood; her painting used on the official 2011 Lights  Pennsylvania, Bethlehem. Bethlehem Steel On Afterschool poster. Her painting Corporation Blast Furnaces; illustrates some of the exciting and fun  Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. LOVE activities available in afterschool programs, Fountain, Boathouse Row and PECO from playing soccer to building rockets to Building’s 27th-floor Crown Lights; learning the violin to painting, music and  Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. Fred Rogers computer programming. Memorial Statue; In addition to having her painting selected  Texas, La Porte. Battleship Texas; by the Afterschool Alliance for its 2011  Wisconsin, Rice Lake. Lincoln Clubhouse; poster, Tanner won a trip to Washington, and D.C., with air travel provided by American  Germany, Ramstein. Kaiserslautern Airlines. Military Community Center Mall. “Nicole’s painting is a wonderful representation of the range of fun and A special feature at the Jacksonville, educational activities available to children Florida “Light Up a Landmark” event will be who participate in quality programs,” said the official release of the 2011 State-by-State Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Afterschool Progress Reports and Consumer Grant. “Afterschool programs do so much Guides, which consists of 50 state reports that more than keep kids safe. They help working examine how each state is helping keep the families, and they provide children and youth lights on for kids and families after school. with exciting ways to engage in hands-on Produced by the Afterschool Alliance and learning and discover new skills, talents and sponsored by jcpenney, the progress reports interests. This year’s poster celebrates active review state policies, funding and other

Afterschool Advocate Page 12 learning and the great variety of activities Both conferences convene statewide and afterschool programs offer.” national afterschool practitioners, including “To me, the most exciting part about administrators, district managers/coordinators, winning the Lights On Afterschool poster site directors and frontline staff. STEP UP will contest was finding out I won the trip to be held October 31 to November 2, and AMP Washington, D.C.,” Nicole said. “I’ve never UP will be November 2 to November 4. For been on a plane before, and I’m excited to see more information about STEP UP, click here. where the president lives and visit the Lincoln For more information about AMP UP, click Memorial. My whole family is coming with here. me.” To learn more and register your Lights November 15 – 16, 2011 On Afterschool event, or access materials to The National Summer Learning Association will host the Summer Changes Everything 2011 help with last-minute planning, click here. National Summer Learning Conference in San

Francisco. Participants will attend workshops  and hear from speakers on topics including policy, funding and innovative instructional MARK YOUR CALENDARS… approaches. A pre-conference session begins November 14. For more information, click October 20, 2011 here. The Afterschool Alliance will sponsor the 12th annual Lights On Afterschool, raising awareness December 7 – 9, 2011 about the benefits that afterschool programs The Best Out-of-School Time Collaborative offer to families and communities across the will host the Healthy Behaviors Conference: country. Lights On Afterschool is the only Changing Lives, Saving Lives in San Diego. national rally for afterschool programs, and in The conference for K – 12 out-of-school-time recent years it has included more than 7,500 educators will explore strategies to encourage events throughout the United States and at U.S. and promote healthy lifestyles for today’s military bases worldwide. For more youth. Workshop topics will address physical information, to plan an event or share your activity, childhood obesity prevention, plans, and to sign up for free materials, click gardening, family advocacy, best practices and here. more. For further information, click here.

October 31 – November 4, 2011 February 15 – 18, 2012 The California Afterschool Network and the Foundations, Inc. will hold its 15th annual San Diego County Office of Education will host Beyond School Hours conference in 2011 STEP UP High School and AMP UP Burlingame, California. Thousands of Middle School conferences in San Diego, afterschool advocates will gather for California. The conferences will feature professional development, and will hear from keynote speakers Stedman Graham, M.Ed. of S. Geoffrey Canada, author and president/CEO of Graham & Associates, and Nicole Yohalem, Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City, and M.Ed. of the Forum for Youth Investment. other experts. For more information, click here. More than 100 workshops will be offered, with topics such as youth development, STEM,  physical activity, prevention, program sustainability, academic rigor and enrichment.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org. The Alliance is proud to count among its founding partners the Mott Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, jcpenney afterschool, Open Society Institute/The After-School Corporation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Creative Artists Agency Foundation. * * * * * * * * The Afterschool Advocate is produced for the Afterschool Alliance by PR Solutions, Inc., Washington, DC;

Phone: 202/371-1999; Fax: 202/371-9142; E-mail: [email protected].