Additional Resources
Edutopia Video Series: How Learning Happens
The pandemic has brought about a timely mindset shift. It is now clearer than ever that young people learn, struggle, and thrive in a variety of settings, in and out of classrooms. The social and emotional learning of children and youth requires a range of strategies—and adults who are prepared and have the resources to provide support in all of the places and spaces where they learn.
Creating Healthier Environments: Strategies and Examples for Afterschool and Summer Programs, Including 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Expanding
Minds and Opportunities: Leveraging the Power of Afterschool and
Summer Learning for Student Success is a collection of
articles on almost every aspect of afterschool and summer
learning programs. In Section
II. Expanding Skills and Horizons, written by our partners
Crystal Weedall FitzSimons, Director of
School and Out-of-School Time Programs, Food Research and Action
Center and Daniel W. Hatcher,
Director of Community Partnerships, Alliance for a Healthier
Generation, highlight that afterschool and summer
programs “play an important role in improving the health and
nutritional well-being of our nation’s children.” Many kids today
are considered obese, suffer from food insecurity or both.
Afterschool and summer programs are part of the strategy to help
alleviate those challenges. Access the complete article,
here.
Torlakson Announces New Toolkit to Help Educators Explain Common Core
Tom Torlakson, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, has announced the release of “Explaining Common Core to Californians: A Communications Toolkit,” a web-based resource that aims to help educators align their curriculum with the Common Core State Standards. Comprised of research, recommendations, and sample communications, this toolkit is designed to ease the transition to the new standards and adequately prepare students for college and future careers.
LCAP Watch Website Launches
The LCAP Watch website, developed by a coalition of over 30 organizations, has recently been released, where the public can access an archive of LCAPS. The website was designed to increase public awareness of school district Local Control Accountability Plans by allowing users to access existing LCAPS or add their own. Furthermore, the website also has resources offering effective strategies on how to target state priority areas.
To access the website, click here.
Center for Collaborative Solutions
January Resource of the Month
The Center for Collaborative Solutions is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting effective partnerships that achieve outcomes through sharing the same goals. The organization is divided into three departments: Afterschool Solutions, Healthcare Solutions, and Labor Management Solutions. A project designed by the Afterschool Solutions division is the Healthy Behaviors Initiative (HBI), a local and statewide effort to promote nutritional eating habits and regular physical activity in after school programs.
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
March Resource of the Month
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a national organization that works to educate the public and policymakers on scientifically-based crime prevention strategies. Comprised of a team of the top law enforcement leaders, this organization’s mission is not only to prevent kids from engaging in criminal activity early in childhood, but also to intervene with kids who have been involved with crime to get them back on the right track. Extending investment to after school programs is one of the priorities of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
Public Profit Releases “Strategies to Promote Non-Cognitive Skills: A Guide for Youth Developers & Educators”
Public Profit is proud to announce the release of Strategies to Promote Non-Cognitive Skills: A Guide for Youth Developers & Educators,” a guide which identifies how to help youth gain skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century. Recently, researchers have emphasized the value of stressing non-cognitive skills in the education of children particularly in five key areas: Academic Behaviors, Academic Mindsets, Academic Perseverance, Learning Strategies, and Social Skills.
Afterschool Matters Journal
Afterschool Matters is a national, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to promoting professionalism, scholarship and consciousness in the field of afterschool education. The journal serves those involved in developing and managing programs for youth during the out-of-school time hours and those engaged in research and in shaping youth development policy.
Groundbreaking Compendium on Expanded Learning Released
Released on February 5th at the National Press Club, Expanding Minds and Opportunities: Leveraging the Power of Afterschool and Summer Learning for Student Success is a collection of articles on almost every aspect of afterschool and summer learning programs. From the Expanded Learning and Afterschool Project’s press release:
This landmark collection of nearly 70 articles is being met with great acclaim, as it presents bold and persuasive evidence and best practices from the field that quality expanded learning opportunities