The Afterschool Advisor 

November 2013

In This Issue
21CCLC Application Now Available
2014 Impact After School Conference
Service Learning Survey
FY14 VISTA Concept Papers
Youth Guest Bloggers Needed!
NASA Resources
Grant Opportunities
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

About

the Afterschool Advisor

The Afterschool Advisor is a publication of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance for practitioners seeking resources to improve, sustain, and develop their afterschool program.

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21CCLC Applications Now Being Accepted! 

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21st Century Community Learning Centers is a federal grant program run through the Iowa Department of Education that supports out-of-school-time learning opportunities for students that attend high-poverty, low-performing schools.  21CCLC programs focus on academic support, academic enrichment, and parental engagement. (Learn more about 21CCLC here.)

The FY 2014 Request for Applications (RFA) is available here.


With questions about 21CCLC grants or the application process, contact Vic Jaras at the Iowa Department of Education at [email protected] or 515-242-6354.

 

Applicant Workshops

Application workshops are being held across the state to provide potential applicants with information on grant program requirements and the characteristics of good proposals. Upcoming workshops are listed below.  

 

No registration is needed. There is no obligation to apply for a grant if you attend a workshop. All attendees are asked to bring a flash drive for documents and other presentation materials.   

 

All workshops are 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.     

 

Cedar Rapids - Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Grant Wood AEA - Winter Room    

4401 Sixth Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404  

 

Ottumwa - Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Great Prairie AEA (Ottumwa Office) - Conference Room A   

2814 North Court Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501  

 

For more information on these workshops, contact Indira Blazevic at [email protected] or 515-237-0324. 

Grant Reviewers & Facilitators Needed

The Iowa Department of Education is seeking qualified individuals with diverse expertise, geographic, gender, racial, and ethnic representation to participate as individual grant reviewers and team facilitators in the peer review process for 21CCLC grant applications. Reviewers receive a stipend of $150; facilitators receive a stipend of $200. Grant reviewing will occur in February and March 2014.

Click here for more information and the application.

Reviewer and facilitator applications are due Friday, December 6, 2013.

2014 Impact After School Conference 

Save the Date!

  

Impact After School Conference

April 24-25, 2014

Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center, Johnston, IA  

     

Expanded to two full days

Tracks added for various interests

Joined by Minnesota 21CCLC grantees this year!

  

Join us for a second great year of out-of-school time professional development and networking! This year Minnesota 21st Century Community Learning Centers grantees will be joining us in Iowa. You won't want to miss this opportunity! 

 

Conference registration and workshop proposal submission coming soon. Please contact Indira Blazevic with questions or topic requests.

Building Service Learning Resources in Iowa

Community Youth Concepts is in the process of updating and expanding statewide service learning resources for schools, colleges/universities, and community based organizations.  

 

In order to better understand the current needs and resources across the state, your assistance is needed. Please complete this short survey to help them!  

 

Please contact Michelle Raymer with questions. 

VISTA Concept Papers Now Being Accepted
Corporation for National and Community Service 

The Corporation for National and Community Service-Iowa State Office is accepting VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) Concept Papers for new VISTA program sponsors for FY14.

Submissions are due January 3, 2014. For the Iowa VISTA Request for Concepts, click here
IA Website Looking for Guest Youth Bloggers

I AM in Control.org Iowa Adolescents Making Choices to Control Their Future   

Iamincontrol.org, an online resource for adolescent health, is seeking middle and high school youth in Iowa to blog on the site.  

 

The process is easy - the teens can email Alyssa Mathews at the Iowa Department of Public Health to share a story about something they've learned as an adolescent (often it's about their first relationship, body image, bullying, etc.). It's a chance for teens to learn from each other and realize that they aren't alone in their experiences.

 
For more information on this opportunity, please contact Alyssa Mathews at [email protected] or 515-725-2833.
Explore Earth & Space with NASA Resources

NASA can help afterschool programs serving elementary students incorporate the excitement of space and the wonders of Earth with two websites for kids! Both feature "make and do" sections for hands-on learning and fun. 

 

Space Place (http://spaceplace.nasa.gov) is an educational website about space and Earth sciences and technologies for elementary-aged children.   

 

Climate Kids (http://climatekids.nasa.gov) explains basic climate science with multimedia, games, humor, and crystal clear language for the same age group.

Grant Opportunities

Ordered by Deadline
Iowa 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2014
21st Century Community Learning Centers is a U.S. Department of Education program, administered by the states, that supports out-of-school-time learning opportunities for students in high-poverty, low-performing areas. The Iowa Department of Education administers 21CCLC funding in Iowa through grant competitions. 21CCLC programs
focus on academic support, academic enrichment, and parental engagement. (Learn more about 21CCLC here.)

The FY 2014 Request for Applications (RFA) for 21CCLC grants is available here.


See the news item at the top of this newsletter for information about applicant workshops.

Wells Fargo Local Grants 
Deadline: Rolling
Wells Fargo makes grants in the area of education, including a focus on organizations that promote academic achievement for low to moderate income students. Other areas of giving include community development and engagement, human services, and arts and culture. Learn about Wells Fargo corporate giving opportunities in Iowa here. 

Farrell Family Foundation Grants
 
Deadline: Rolling
The Farrell Family Foundation focuses grants on education with an emphasis on technology, healthy and human welfare, and the arts. An underlying philosophy that runs throughout all FFF contributions is the promotion of self-reliance, responsibility and accountability. The preferred method of making major gifts is through "matching funds." Learn more here
 

Federal Funding Guide for Reading Proficiency 

The Finance Project has developed a guide to federal funding sources for reading initiatives, LEARNING TO READ: A Guide to Federal Funding for Grade-Level Reading Proficiency.  

 

This guide to more than 100 federal funding sources helps state and local officials, leaders of community-based and national organizations, school leaders, and private investors find funding to strengthen and sustain grade-level reading programs and services for children from birth through third grade.

 

Child & Adult Care Food Program

Reauthorized by Congress under the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010," this federal program provides meals and snacks for school-age youth in afterschool programs.  

 

Find out more by visiting the Iowa Department of Education website.   

 

Iowa Grants Guide Online

The Iowa Grants Guide is a web-based directory of Iowa grant-making organizations. Program information only is provided; grant applications are not. Click here for the Iowa Grants Guide.

 

FindYouthInfo.gov Federal Funds Search Engine

Click here to search federal grant opportunities with a tool that lets you filter results by topic, such as Afterschool, Positive Youth Development, or Service Learning.  

  

Spark Grant Finder Tool

This online tool locates national and state-specific grants for physical education, afterschool, early childhood and coordinated school health programs. Search for grants here.  

Professional Development Opportunities
Ordered by Scheduled Dates
The Iowa Afterschool Alliance keeps a calendar of opportunities regularly updated on our website. Visit it at http://www.iowaafterschoolalliance.org/resources/.

More Than Just Another "To-Do" on the List: The Benefits of Strong School, Principal, and Afterschool/Community Relationships

Dec. 3, 2013, 12:00 p.m. CST

Learn how afterschool and administrators are working together to "build a new day for learning," aimed at achieving innovative reform within schools and through quality afterschool and summer learning programs. Presenters: Gail Connelly, Executive Director, National Association of Elementary School Principals and Gina Warner, Executive Director, National Afterschool Association. Moderator: Terry Peterson, Ph.D. Register 


2013 National Science Teachers Association Area Conference

Dec. 12-14, 2013; Denver, CO 

The National Science Teachers Association is hosting an area conference in Denver, Colo. This dynamic conference will offer three "strands/tracks" for optimal professional development. The strands are: PreK-8: A Playground for Literacy and Mathematics, Engineering the Engineering: Connecting the Why to the How, and Exploring STEM: Inside and Out.

 

Learn more and register here.

 

Beyond School Hours Conference by Foundations, Inc.

Feb. 12-15, 2014; Atlanta, GA

In many ways, Beyond School Hours is a celebration of you. Educators and administrators from across the country will join you to share successes, learn, and laugh together. The camaraderie is electric. And no celebration with us would be complete without big surprises. Special guests, frequent giveaways, spontaneous activities, exciting entertainment - you don't want to miss a minute.

 

Register online here.  

 

2014 National Science Teachers Association National Conference

April 3-6, 2014; Boston

The National Science Teachers Association is asking you save the date for its national conference in April 2014! The current "strands/tracks" planned are: Science and Literacy: A Symbiotic Relationship; Teaching Elementary Science with Confidence!; Leading from the Classroom; and Engineering and Science: Technological Partners.

 

Registration information will be available in September, to learn more about the conference click here.


2014 Iowa Impact After School Conference
 
April 24-25, 2014; Johnston, Iowa
Save the date for this second annual conference for afterschool coordinators, administrators, front-line staff, and educators! We're expanding to two full days of professional development in wide-ranging areas like STEM in afterschool, engaging youth, program management, sustainability, and many more.

Look for more details and registration in the coming months! Please contact Indira Blazevic with questions or topic requests.

 

Online Courses for 21CCLC Professionals
Ongoing
Short online courses are available for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program staff through You for Youth, the U.S. Department of Education's website for 21CCLCs. Courses cover topics like Project-Based Learning, Aligning with the School Day, STEM, and Strengthening Partnerships. Each course takes less than an hour and is available 24/7.  

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance seeks to improve access to high-quality afterschool programs for all Iowa children, youth, and families through policy and partnerships, practice support and outreach and engagement.

To contact the IAA:

Michelle Rich, Iowa Network Coordinator
[email protected] 
515-237-0328
2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 302
West Des Moines, IA 50266
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