CAN Newsletter – Happy New Year, After School!
With the reflection and celebration of the holiday season behind us, CAN is energized to advance its purpose to increase access to high-quality out-of-school time opportunities that support success for all of California’s children and youth in 2019. Following are a few highlights as we begin the new year.
- CAN enters the year with a strong team. In December, CAN welcomed its new Program Director, Heather Williams as well as our two student assistants Niomi Gonzalez and Kim Ho. This completes CAN’s staff roster and shores up our organizational capacity to better serve you in 2019. Learn more about the CAN staff team.
- Join Us! Next week, CAN will release a new Leadership Team application. CAN lives its motto, “of the field, for the field” and the field guides how CAN uses its human and financial resources to attain the bold goals outlined in the CAN Strategic Plan. I hope you will consider submitting your application to lead this organization. Learn more about our current Leadership Team.
- We will continue our support for Site Coordinators as a linchpin for quality, and we look forward to seeing you on February 7th and 8th in Long Beach, CA for the second annual Site Coordinator Expanded Learning Symposium. We are pleased to have key California leaders including a special guest from California’s incoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond’s office, and after school champion, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty along with a series of engaging plenary speakers and over 50 workshops! We will also be announcing the launch of a new initiative, a statewide Site Coordinator Network! Learn more below.
- Stay Tuned: This year, CAN will release a suite of tools to support Continuous Quality Improvement. including a new Quality Standards-aligned assessment tool, online assessment system, and Continuous Quality Improvement. Many of you have offered input to these tools and for that we thank you. There will be another opportunity for field input at the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs.
- This is an important year for advocacy. Stay tuned to this newsletter, join the California AfterSchool Advocacy Alliance’s newsletter, and plan on attending the California Afterschool Challenge on March 11-12 of this year.
Thank you for all you do each and every day to support children, youth, and families. We look forward to all that we can do together in 2019 and beyond.
Keep up the great work out there!
Jeff Davis and the CAN team.
Items to include in this newsletter
California’s Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sworn In
On Monday, January 7th 2019, Gavin Newsom and Tony Thurmond were sworn in as California’s 40th Governor and new State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thurmond has a wealth of experience as a social worker and politician, and has been a major champion and supporter of California’s youth and after school.
Site Coordinator Symposium Announcement: Keynote Speaker, Special Guest, and Scholarship Application
The Expanded Learning Site Coordinator Symposium is fast approaching! We are excited to announce Brian McDaniel, California State Teacher of the Year as a Keynote Speaker, and special guest, Senator Kevin McCarty as after school champion. But that’s not all! Stay tuned for future keynote and special guest announcements!
Site Coordinator Community of Practice Guidebook
In partnership with the California Department of Education’s Expanded Learning Division, CAN is proud to announce the release of the Site Coordinator Community of Practice Guide Book. The guide book will assist in the implementation of building a Community Practice (CoP), and will include valuable information about the elements and characteristics of a CoP while engaging in the Continuous Quality Improvement process.
Why Afterschool is a Proven and Smart Choice
After the Trump Administration’s repeated efforts and remarks to eliminate 21st Century Community Learning Centers, research has been put forth to capture the benefits of after school funding and programs. The 21st CCLC programs serve roughly 1.7 million youth nationwide, with larger representation from low-income households and communities.
America’s Strategy for STEM Education
The White House is pleased to unveil Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education, a highly-anticipated 5-year STEM Education strategic plan to expand and improve the nation’s capacity for high-quality STEM education and prepare citizens with the skills necessary for the STEM economy of the future.
Best Practices for Running High Quality Summer Programs
It may be January, but summer is right around the corner! Proper planning and preparation can result in higher quality summer programs for our youth! The Wallace Foundation has created a new guide, Getting to Work on Summer Learning to explain the elements of a successful summer program.
Legislative Analyst Releases Cal Facts 2018
With a state as big and complex as California, the Legislative Analyst Office has published CAL Facts 2018 as a visual guide to assist with showcasing information about the state regarding topics such as public health, state/county finances, housing, and population. This edition includes twelve pages of California facts on our state’s education including national rankings, demographics, and other essential information on K-12 and higher education throughout Ca
Aspen Institute Newly Released Report on Building Partnerships
The Aspen Insititute’s National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development (NCSEAD) has developed an evidence driven brief, Building Partnerships in Support of Where, When and How Learning Happens.
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Check out the CAN website for a list of up to date funding opportunities all year long, today!