Network News - February 11, 2010

In this issue:

Network News

Network Rural Summit a Rousing Success!
On January 26, 2010, the California Afterschool Network hosted the California Rural After School Summit in partnership with the Region 2 Learning Supports division. The Summit was attended at capacity with rural Legislators, after school practitioners from rural regions of the state spanning from the northern to southern borders, and representatives from the California Department of Education. Speakers for the Summit included rural superintendents, practitioners, and students, as well as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The Summit highlighted the successes and challenges of rural after school programs, demonstrated the need for sustaining rural programs, and provided opportunity for participants to make recommendations to strengthen rural programs. These recommendations will be released in a report later this month on the rural summit website.

Senator Ashburn's office utilized the Rural Summit to introduce SB 898,

a bill that would offer rural programs a minimum grant allotment. To view pictures from the summit, a fact sheet, and link to state and federal legislation to support after school programs, click here.

Step Up High School Summit 2010
The California Afterschool Network is excited to host the second annual Step Up High School Summit on November 2-4, 2010. Program administrators, high school principals, and high school after school practitioners are encouraged to attend. The Summit will focus on successful strategies for high school after school programs. The event will be held at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego. Last year's summit was attended by over 400 statewide and national high school after school practitioners and stakeholders, and received rave reviews. Attendees enjoyed a myriad of high quality workshop sessions, keynote addresses, and networking opportunities. View last year's workshops and workshop materials

Registration is now open for the 2010 Step Up High School Summit
Based on the overwhelming response from last year's summit, available slots are likely to fill up quickly. Early bird rates will be available until July 1, 2010. Register today to receive the early bird rate and make sure your high school team is part of this exciting event.

Request for Proposals are being accepted until March 5, 2010
The Network is currently accepting Requests For Proposals (RFPs) for the 2010 Step Up High School Summit. RFPs should be submitted by March 5, 2010 for consideration in the Summit program.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee Posts Child Nutrition
Reauthorization Information
Through research and discussion, the California Afterschool Network Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee have outlined methods that may provide improved capacity for after school programs in California to address the very real hunger issues facing children and youth. The Committee has posted this information on the Network Nutrition and Physical Activity Web Page. They also acknowledge that it is possible to increase the role that after school programs can play in addressing the obesity crisis facing our nation and our young people. To access the Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee information and recommendations to improve child nutrition and health, click here

After School Policy

To locate your State or Federal legislators, click here

After School Advisory Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the California Department of Education (CDE) Advisory Committee on Before and After School Programs will be held February 24th at 9:30 am at the Corrections Standards Authority Building (600 Bercut Drive in Sacramento). The purpose of the Advisory Committee on Before and After School Programs is to provide information and advice to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Secretary for Education, and the State Board of Education regarding state and federal policy and funding issues affecting before and after school programs, based on regular and systematic input from providers. For more information, click here.

Network Policy Committee Telephone Policy Information Session
Join a call on February 25, 2010 to learn about current state and federal after school policy issues. Network Policy Committee co-chair Brian Lee, Deputy Director with California Fight Crime Invest in Kids, will offer a summary of state and federal after school policy initiatives. Participants will learn about current policy issues and legislation, as well as how to access a toolkit created by the California Afterschool Network to educate legislators about the value of after school programs through site visits. To learn how to join the call, click here.

California After School Policy

Ashburn Introduces SB 898 at California Afterschool Network Rural
After School Summit
Although rural programs often serve a high percentage of their school population. The current state funding formula provides $7.50 per participant, per day. As many rural schools are small, they are often not financially viable under this funding formula. SB 898 proposes a minimum grant for rural after school programs. On January 26, 2010 at the California Afterschool Network Rural After School Summit, Senator Ashburn's office announced the introduction of SB 898. SB 898 proposes to establish minimum grant award levels for small rural schools.

Federal After School Policy

President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Would Reduce 21st CCLC
Funding On Feb. 1, 2010 the Obama Administration released its proposed FY 2011 Budget. The budget calls for level funding of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative at $1.16B, but it also combines the 21st CCLC funding stream with the Full Service Community Schools program and changes the nature of the grant process, resulting in a loss of $13 million—and potentially more—from funding for 21st CCLC after school, before school, and summer programs. The text of the President's budget states (on page 64),"The initiative also reforms the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program to focus funding on models that redesign and extend the school day, week, or year." Language in the budget proposal is consistent with this statement, more often referring to "extended day" language rather than "after school." The proposed budget also contains an overall increase for Education spending in 2011, and includes an increase for the Child Development Block Grant, and funds a new STEM initiative. The California Afterschool Network is monitoring the Federal budget process closely and will inform the field as new information arises.

Federal Senate Bill Proposes to Enhance After School in Rural Areas

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) introduced the Investment in Afterschool Programs Act (S. 1281). This bill will establish a pilot program to help rural communities create and improve after school programs. The bill proposes to make grants to rural after school programs for transportation, professional development, strategic planning, and other activities. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education, Labor, and Pensions in June of 2009. To read the text and status of this bill, click here.

Training and Professional Development Opportunities

Free Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Training
The California Department of Education is offering free two day training in various locations throughout the state. Part II of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Centerpiece for a Healthy School Environment 
is a free two-day training designed for school personnel and community partners. It provides tools to support an increase of fresh fruits and vegetables on school campuses through fun, interactive, and skill-building activities. These free trainings will be held statewide with the following dates and locations:

• San Diego - February 18-19

• Woodland - February 22-23

• Rialto - February 23-24

• Fresno - March 1-2

• Downey - March 3-4

• Salinas - March 8-9

• Redding - March 10-11
• Santa Ana - March 11-12
• Hayward - March 15-16

• Santa Rosa - March 17-18

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. Download training flyer and register here.

USDA Summer Food Service Program Webinars
The USDA is offering general public session webinars regarding the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). After School and summer programs are eligible to participate in this program as a summer food sponsor (and operate many feeding sites), and as a summer food site (and operate under the umbrella of a sponsor). The dates of these upcoming information sessions are listed below.

• Tuesday, February 23: 11:00am-12:00pm EST
• Thursday, February 25: 3:00pm-4:00pm EST

For more information and to register, click here.

Complimentary Playground Safety Workshop
CSBA and the National Playground Compliance Group are hosting complimentary Playground Safety Workshops in California. We hope that you will join us for this informative lunchtime workshop. Each complimentary workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and includes lunch. This interactive, fast-paced workshop will provide the tools necessary for understanding the requirements of AB1144, as this legislation relates to ASTM standards, CPSC guidelines and ADA laws for playground safety and accessibility. Below are the dates and locations for this complimentary training.

• March 16, Sheraton Hotel, Ontario
• March 17, Holiday Inn, San Jose
• March 18, Four Points by Sheraton, Sacramento

Space is limited. Register today by contacting Vina Guzman at (916) 669-3327.

The Coalition for Community Schools 2010 National Forum
The Coalition for Community Schools National Forum; Building Innovative Partnerships for Student Success: The Key to America's Future will be held on April 7-9, 2010, in Philadelphia. The forum will focus on partnerships—bringing schools, families, community residents, higher education and an array of other community partners together around a common result—student success. Innovation is the word of the day in education reform, as the U.S. Department of Education rolls out its new education reform strategy. This forum seeks to utilize innovation from the community schools model to attain student success. For more information and to register, click here.

Resources To Support your work

Making Physical Accommodations for Youth with Special Needs
A physical accommodation can be anything from moving furniture to allow for more accessibility in your environment to changing seating locations so everyone is visually accommodated. Physical accommodations do not need to cost a lot of money; they just have to match the need of the person or group you are accommodating for. For more information on physical accommodations, please visit the ehow website

Roads to Success Career and College Curriculum for Grades 7 - 12 Available
Free Online
Roads to Success, a 6-year-old nonprofit offering a new guidance curriculum, and training in New York, has now posted its program materials online. School-based and afterschool-based counselors and educators can download these materials free of charge. Programs will be able to access Facilitator’s Guides, Student materials, Parent newsletters, and over 180 lessons. Roads to Success was developed with support from the McKelvey Foundation and continues with grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation, JP MorganChase and others. For information about Roads to Success, and to download free program materials, click here

Funding Opportunities

Get Ur Good On Grants for Young Volunteers 

Youth Serve America and Miley Cyrus have announced the Get Ur Good On Grants. Youth ages 15-25 who join Miley Cyrus Social Network, Get Ur Good On as members are eligible to apply for $100 - $500 grants for service projects that will take place on Global Youth Service Day (April 23 - 25, 2010). The application deadline is February 22, 2010. For more information, and to apply, click here.

Women Helping Others (WHO) Foundation Education and Literacy Grants
The WHO Foundation: Women Helping Others supports grassroots nonprofit organizations serving the overlooked needs of women and children in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Foundation's Education/Literacy Grant Program provides grants to free after-school programs and other education or literacy programs for low-income children of all ages. Organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to applying. The application deadline is March 9, 2010. For more information and to apply click here.

Finish Line Youth Foundation Grant
Non-profit community based organizations serving disadvantaged or special needs youth, and addressing active and healthy lifestyles are eligible to apply for Finish Line Youth Foundation Grants for $1,000 - $5,000. These grants are available on an ongoing basis with 2010 deadlines of March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. For more information and to apply click here.

Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards
Charitable or educational organizations that operate as a non-profit entity are eligible for Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards. Nature Hills Nursery will donate $5,000 of plant materials annually to the earth friendly award-winning projects. Awards will be presented to a Grand Prize winner in the amount of $2,500 of plant materials. First place winner will receive $1,500 in plant materials and the Second Place winner $1,000 in plant materials. The plant materials can contain trees, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs, perennials and vegetable seeds. The application deadline is April 1, 2010. For more information and to apply click here.

National Endowment for the Arts Grants
The National Endowment for the Arts is offering Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth Grants. These grants are for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge, understanding, and skills in the arts that engage youth with participatory learning, skilled artists, and excellent art. Grants are offered for school-based programs including after-school and summer enrichment programs that are formally connected to school curricula. Grants are also available for community-based projects that occur outside of the school day and the school system in a variety of settings. The application deadline is June 10, 2010. For more information and to apply, click here.