Message from Director:
Welcome Back!
 Somebody tell me, did we even have a summer? Unbelievable! Talk about paleoclimatology...Anyway, lots going on in the education arena. Nationally, we have President Obama's anticipated back to school speech, which some prematurely find controversial; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has rolled out his education platform and accountability continues to be more than just a buzz word under this administration; and our beloved Senator Ted Kennedy, a champion of afterschool programming, has been laid to rest. Subsequently, there's no pressing time like the present to put in place our vowel strategy: advocate, educate, inform, organize and unify to support afterschool programming at the national, state and local levels. The Afterschool Alliance in Washington, DC, an alliance of public, private and non-profit groups committed to raising awareness and expanding resources for afterschool programs, provides us with the following core facts: - More than 14 million school-age children are on their own after school. Among them are 40,000 kindergarteners.
- The parents of more than 28 million school-age children work outside the home.
- Only 6.5 million K-12 children participate in afterschool programs. An additional 15 million would if it were available.
- The hours between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and anti-social behavior including onset dabbling in drugs, alcohol, sex, gangs, smoking, etc.
- Currently, the federal government only contributes 11% of the cost of afterschool, while 29% of the children in afterschool meet the federal government's definition as outlined in the No Child Left Behind legislation.
This is the start of a new school year and indeed, this will be an exceptional one. We are ready, willing and able for the challenges that lie ahead. Recession, lack of funding - nothing will stop us from positively impacting the lives of our most precious assets - our youth. So, go forward! Make this the most productive, impactful school year ever. Here's to you and to a great 2009-2010 school year! For the Youth, 
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Back-to-School
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Safety First!
September is an exciting time of the year for children, parents and teachers.
About 55 million students and 7 million staff are returning to more than 130,000 public and private schools in the United States. While our nation's schools are expected to be safe havens for learning, events such as unexpected violence or disease may disrupt the educational process. "The safety of kids is our number one priority," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. "In order for children to learn, they have to feel safe. It's our responsibility to help schools create safe learning environments for students."
Read the article in the following section on back-to-school safety tips by Nick Forte, NYS Center for School Safety.
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Back-to-School Safety Tips
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As we kick off the 2009-2010 school year, following are a few back to school safety tips to keep in mind...
Before and After School Tips for Parents
- Reinforce safety rules both at school and home.
- Know the routes that your children take to school.
- Know your children's friends.
- Younger children need supervision. An adult should be present to watch over them before and after school. If an adult is not available, special plans should be made to supervise your children from a distance.
- When choosing an afterschool program, inquire about the training of the staff and the child to staff ratio.
Backpack Safety
- Organize backpack to use all compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10-20 percent of the student's body weight.
- Always use both straps. Slinging the backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
- Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.
Walking to school
- The number one safety tip when walking is to walk with a buddy.
- Avoid routes that are near parks, empty lots, and places where there are not many people around.
- Always walk on sidewalks, when there are no sidewalks, walk single file on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
Biking to school
- If riding a bike or walking, respect traffic lights and signs.
- Walk bicycles through intersections.
- Always wear a helmet no matter the distance of the trip.
Riding a school bus
- When waiting for the bus, do not play in the road.
- Never reach under a bus to retrieve a lost item for any reason.
- If the bus is equipped with shoulder/lap belts, make sure students use them when in the bus.
Car Safety
- ALL passengers should wear seat belts or an age and size appropriate car safety seat.
- Children under 13 should ride in the rear seat of vehicles.
- Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school.
Remember always use good judgment when commuting to and from school.
Resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics 2009 (Tips available in Spanish) and Red Cross
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Know What to Do About the Flu
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Education Reform
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 Transforming Our Lowest-Achieving Schools
The Obama Administration announced an historic opportunity to turn around the nation's lowest-achieving public schools. Secretary Duncan announced $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to fund transformational changes where children have long been underserved. Visit ED.gov for information on proposed requirements
 - The $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund is the largest ever federal competitive investment in school reform. It will provide competitive grants to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform, implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):
- Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;
- Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals;
- Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and
- Turning around our lowest-performing schools.
*Painting by Ndichu Njuguna
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Family Involvement
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 I refer you this month to a policy brief by the Harvard Family Research Project (HRFP) and the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) which looks at the role of school districts in promoting family engagement.
Seeing is Believing: Promising Practices for How School Districts Promote Family Engagement highlights how six school districts across the country have used strategies to create and sustain family engagement 'systems at work' by pointing to three core components of the successful systems: creating district-wide strategies, building school capacity, and reaching out to and engaging families.
I would love to hear how New York is involving the family members of the children served in afterschool programs. Email me your family involvement best practices at llopez@mhric.org.
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NY 21st CCLC
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APR due date is SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Profile and Performance Information Collection System (PPICS) collects basic information about the characteristics associated with 21st CCLC funded programs and the outcomes they were able to achieve as a result of providing services to students and adult family members attending the programs.
The NY 21st CCLC Statewide Technical Assistance Center has uploaded basic information for all NYS 21st CCLC programs. Individual NY 21st CCLC grantees must log in to PPICS and enter the required information for each 21st CCLC program.
User guides and forms available on PPICS provide important information and guidance.
NEW! For the 2008-2009 APR, 21st CCLC grantees may report grades, state assessment, and teacher survey information in one of two ways. NYSED is granting 21st CCLC grantees the option to report information at the student level or in aggregate form as in the past.
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Funding Opportunities
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The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program - The New York State Education Department announced a new grant program to establish a network of early college high schools in New York. This new program will consist of approximately 23 Early College High School (ECHS) partnerships, through two separate cohorts. The partnerships will involve eligible local education agencies (LEAs), and institutions of higher education. A second RFP process will take place in the spring/summer of 2010. Deadline for Cohort 1: October 1, 2009
The Verizon Foundation Community Investments - The Verizon Foundation seeks to fund projects that work to increase literacy and educational achievement, prevent domestic violence, and achieve and sustain health and safety in communities. Awards range up to $4.5 million. Deadline: October 31, 2009
The Wachovia Foundation - Each community has unique needs and opportunities. The Wachovia Foundation designates the majority of its philanthropic dollars to addressing these needs. Community Needs Grants are considered for organizations that meet the Foundation's criteria. Deadline: Ongoing
The Prudential Foundation - Each year, the Prudential Foundation invests over $25 million in grants in efforts that support the revitalization of communities. The foundation promotes sustainable communities by focusing its grant making on education, economic development and arts & civic infrastructure. Examples of funded projects are helping to improve schools, promoting neighborhood activities, and preserving parks and playgrounds. Amounts vary. Deadline: Ongoing
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Resources
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Healing the Invisible Wounds: Children's Exposure to Violence - Do you suspect a child you know has witnessed or experienced violence? It can be difficult to tell what's wrong. Children often suffer from 'invisible wounds' that affect them emotionally and psychologically. This guide provides examples and signs of children (birth to teen years) with exposure to violence and how to address these. Available in Spanish
New York City Vital Signs - Child Obesity is a Serious Concern in New York City - Higher Levels of Fitness Associated with Better Academic Performance. According to a new report from New York City's Health Department and Department of Education (DOE), physically fit students tend to outscore their peers who are less-fit on academic tests. The Office of Fitness and Health Education was created by Mayor Bloomberg to help New York City's 1.1 million public school students excel in both student health and academic achievement. For a copy of the report, click here.
Secret Recipes Revealed - Demystifying the Title I, Part A Funding Formulas - The Elementary and Secondary Education Act authorizes substantial grants-almost $14 billion for the fiscal year that ended in 2008-to augment the education of children living in areas where low-income families are concentrated. A set of four formulas determine the amounts and destinations of grants under Title I, Part A. This report systematically unpacks the formulas and highlights progressive notions embraced by the formulas.
AfterSchool Works! New York - Afterschool Program Accreditation is an indication of program quality which also provides afterschool professionals with performance indicators, benchmarks of quality to guide program planning, implementation and evaluation. AfterSchool Works! New York is the lead agency in this initiative and is seeking afterschool programs to field test the accreditation model. Interested programs are invited to submit an application to be part of the field test. Find out more about the accreditation process by visiting AfterSchool Works! New York. Programs will be selected September 2009.
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Upcoming Events
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 President Barack Obama's Nationally Broadcast Address to Students
September 8, 2009, 12 pm EDT
President Obama will deliver a speech about the importance of persisting and succeeding in school on the first day of school for many children across America. The speech will be broadcast live on www.whitehouse.gov at 1 pm. EDT. "On September 8...I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education, the importance of staying in school, how we want to improve our education system, and why it's so important for the country...," President Obama told 11-yr old reporter, Damon Weaver. A 30-minute special with singer Kelly Clarkson and basketball star LeBron James will air at 8 p.m. Sept. 8 on BET, MTV, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, SPIKE TV and Nickelodeon. For more info, click here.
 National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest
September 2009
The Missing Children's Day poster contest provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and other community organizations to engage children and their parents in informative discussions about the problem of missing children and how to prevent it. Visit the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for additional information.
 Lights On AfterschoolOctober 22, 2009The 10th annual nationwide celebration of afterschool programs will take place in October in more than 7,500 communities. Join the 1 million Americans who take part in Lights on Afterschool to help call attention to the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. If you haven't done so already, register with the Afterschool Alliance.
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The New York 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Statewide Technical Assistance Center (TAC) 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 TAC but remain solely those of the author(s). Such publications have been included only for ease of reference.
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