Greetings
Wonderful Afterschool Program Providers:
One of the
five pillars of educational reform outlined by President Barack Obama is to Encourage Better Standards and Assessment.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan seeks to fulfill this pillar by:
- Adopting
world-class standards that bring curriculum to the 21st century;
- Developing
and implementing rigorous, college-ready academic achievement standards along
with improved assessments, including assessments for students with disabilities
and English language learners;
- Developing
standards and assessments that measure 21st century skills;
- Implementing
data systems that track students from childhood through college; and,
- Utilizing
data as a resource to identify problem areas.
One way that
the above will be accomplished is through Career
and Technical Education (CTE). In the 2008-2009 program year more than 15 million
high school and college students nationwide participated in CTE programs, which are designed to provide students with the
academic, career and technical skills to help them succeed in the workforce. As
authorized by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2005
(Perkins IV), Perkins IV aims to prepare
students for current or emerging high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand jobs by
emphasizing rigorous student academic and technical skill achievement,
increased accountability for student outcomes, and enhanced coordination
between secondary and postsecondary career and technical education. It also
seeks to increase state and local flexibility in providing CTE by involving multiple groups such as students, parents, and local
administrators in planning and administration, and by allowing states
flexibility in the design of their accountability systems.
The shift to a
global economy and rapid advances in technology underscore the importance of
preparing our current and future workforce for high-demand careers with 21st
century skills and which are espoused through CTE
programs.
As we
continue to encourage our youth to believe in themselves, focus on commitment,
overcome obstacles and achieve personal, academic and professional satisfaction,
let us do so by exposing them to alternatives that can make their dreams,
reality.
For the Youth,
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New! Media Professionals to Lead After-School Career Training
Greater Buffalo, New York
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Teens
are most at risk of making poor choices between the weekday hours of
3-6 pm. In response, schools and youth centers have developed a variety
of after-school programs, the best practices of which blend academics,
recreation and socialization as productive ways to fill those less
supervised hours.
Engaging
kids is challenging when competing with the world of seductive media
saturated with pop icons behaving badly. Programs need to be equally
provocative, meaningful and push the creative edge. Buffalo, New York, is leading with a new model.
The newly organized "Play it Forward Partnership", described as
'A West New York collective of teaching artists & organizations empowering
students with the love, lessons and legacy of careers in the creative
arts' has booked an impressive series of top talent to teach
students about unique and emerging professions in the media industry,
while stressing the value of post-high school education.
Beginning on January 13, the weekly, 20-session afterschool program, Music & Media - career coaching, after-school ("M&M" program) will work with a team of 15 high school students attending The Valley Center in South Buffalo. The new program has the attention of education leaders in Albany.
"The status quo approaches to motivating students to learn and grow need to be replaced", states Dr. Felicia Watson, Director of New York's 21st CCLC Statewide Technical Assistance Center, that provides professional development to over 500 after-school sites in New York State, collectively funded by $120,000,000 each year.
"For years Bob James [of Student Voices] has been a source of pioneering new 'best-practice' models of just how
to move past the tired and old with something that is alive, real and
student-centered. At the top of the new decade, this new media career
coaching program seems perfectly perched to serve both our kids and
organizations - a creative community-wide approach!" For additional information, contact Bob James or visit StudentVoices.
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Resources
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Roads to Success Career and College Curriculum -
A 6-year  nonprofit is offering a new guidance curriculum, training, technical assistance and program materials online. School- and afterschool-based counselors and educators can download the materials free of charge. Programs will be able to access all the materials a school or afterschool program will need to start or strengthen its career and college programming. The materials contain information on career choice, postsecondary planning, and independent living (including topics like study skills, career development, reasons to complete and excel in high school, college access, and more.
The Penn Resiliency Project - PRP is a group intervention for late elementary and middle school students. The curriculum teaches cognitive-behavioral and social problem-solving skills and is based in part on cognitive-behavioral theories of depression. PRP teaches a variety of strategies that can be used for solving problems and coping with difficult situations and emotions. The skills taught in the program can be applied to many contexts of life, including relationships with peers and family members, as well as achievement in academics or other activities. For curriculum availability visit the PRP website.
 Reframing Family Involvement in Education: Supporting Families to Support Educational Equity This research review is part of the Equity Matters research initiative at the Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College. It argues that family involvement in education is a powerful but neglected tool to support children's learning and development. Beginning with a brief historical overview of conceptions of family roles and responsibilities in children's learning, this paper next offers a review of recent research on the ways in which expectations and support for family involvement have shifted, particularly with respect to economically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minority families. Visit the Harvard Family Research Project's website for a full text copy.
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Funding Opportunities
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MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Awards Program - MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the ninth year to recognize, sustain and share the work of innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization. Cash grants will be awarded in two categories: Neighborhood Revitalization Awards ($15,000-25,000) and Special Strategy Awards ($15,000) Deadline: February 26
NFL Keep Gym in School - To
improve physical education programs and to raise awareness for the
important role that PE plays in the lives of our nation's children, NFL
Network is providing $1,000 grants to middle schools across the
country. Creating and improving fitness programs, purchasing equipment,
funding salaries and helping with needed facility improvements, NFL
Network's Keep Gym in School will provide in-need middle schools with the resources they need to deliver quality physical education to their students. Deadline: March 1
Motorola Foundation: Innovation Generation Grants - The Motorola Foundation Innovation Generation Grants will support targeted Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs for U.S. pre-school through 12th grade students and teachers. Funding priority will be placed on programs that engage students and teachers in innovative hands-on activities, teach STEM as well as develop innovative thinking and creative problem-solving skills, focus on girls and minorities that are currently underrepresented in the STEM disciplines, and take place in communities with Motorola employees. Deadline: March 1
Finish Line Youth Foundation - The Finish Line Youth Foundation is accepting applications for its Grants for Youth Programs. The purpose of this program is to support youth athletic and wellness programs that place importance on living a healthy lifestyle, bolstering confidence and leadership skills, and teaching the importance of teamwork. Grant size ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations in the areas where Finish Line stores are located, or where donations to the Foundation are raised. Deadline: March 31
Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes - The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have focused on helping their communities and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. Deadline: April 30
National Endowment for the Arts: Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth - The NEA Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth program funds projects that help children and youth acquired appreciation, knowledge, and understanding of and skills in the arts. Projects must provide participatory learning and engagement of students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art, and ensure the application of national, state, or local arts educations standards.
Deadline: June 10
Actuarial Foundation: Advancing Student Achievement Grants - The Actuarial Foundation Advancing Student Achievement Grant program brings together actuaries and educators in local classrooms with the belief that interaction with real-world mentors will boost student interest and achievement in math. The Actuarial Foundation can provide a local network of actuaries ready to participate, as well as suggestions on how to integrate math concepts from the workplace into the classroom. Schools applying for grants will be given wide latitude in designing programs that enhance learning and create a "love of math" in each student.
Deadline: Ongoing
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Upcoming Events
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Aquafina Pitch, Hit & Run
March 1 - Early May
It's time to find a date to host an Aquafina Major League Baseball (MLB) Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR) Local Competition for the youth in your community! MLB would like to invite you to register for FREE today at PHR to receive a Local Administrator Kit. Local competitions take place from March 1 - early May.
 Coalition for Community Schools - 2010 National Forum
Philadelphia, PA
April 7-9
The Coalition for Community Schools join with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships to convene a diverse group of stakeholders committed to better results for young people across the nation. The 2010 National Forum will reach out to a broad audience of policymakers, administrators, and practitioners from community schools, charter schools, and other sites who want to learn how to integrate school and community assets to support student success. This audience includes those in education, youth development, health and human services, family services and supports, neighborhood and community development, business, government, philanthropy, higher education, and related fields.
BOOST Conference
April 28 - May 1
Set in a retreat-like atmosphere, this event will rejuvenate your passion and boost your direction for quality programming. The BOOST Collaborative is committed to creating opportunities for change in educational and social services agencies serving youth in the out-of-school time hours. BOOST supports out-of-school time professionals through quality professional development opportunities, program and resource development, building community partnerships, promoting the importance of quality out-of-school time programming and opportunities to share promising practices. For event and registration information visit BOOST Conference.
 SAVE THE DATE!21st CCLC Summer InstituteWashington, DCJune 21 - June 23The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education is pleased to announce the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program 2010 Summer institute. This event will showcase the success of the 21st CCLC Program in providing afterschool education through grants.  |
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The New York 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Statewide Technical Assistance Center is a government coordinating agency and information clearinghouse on issues related to 21st CCLC federally-funded afterschool programming.
Please contact Lorraine Lopez with ideas for types of articles and resources you would like to see in future issues.
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Disclaimer
Any publication included in this newsletter and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of the New York 21st CCLC Statewide Technical Assistance Center, but remain solely those of the author(s). Such publications have been included only for ease of reference.
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Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore - the issue affects not just youth but their families, schools, and communities as well.
For the first time ever, Congress and New York State are proclaiming the entire month of February to be Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) invites you to join us in helping to raise awareness on this important issue.
Visit The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence for information and ideas on raising awareness. Be creative and spread awareness!
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