Teachers and site directors does a new school year have you hustling through back-to-school checklists? To help you efficiently save time and energy visit Education World's Back to School Checklist. It's a condensed web-based feature from Education World's most popular resources to help you set up your classrooms, organize curriculum, and communicate with new students. You'll find resources to create 'getting to know you' letters, name tags, icebreakers, planning new lesson plans, and welcome back letters. Updated news articles on educational issues such as bullying or student engagement are available from their substantial database. |
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1150
dropouts already today
1 student every 26 seconds
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Top Ten Teacher Discounts
- Office Depot
- The Container Store
- Barnes & Noble
- LOFT
- The Limited
- HP
- Sea World
- JoAnn Fabrics and Craft Stores
- Michael's
- Staples
Whether it is classroom materials or adding accessories to your wardrobe, educators can take advantage of savings. Gift Card Granny has compiled an extensive list of educator discounts, but you should check with each store to make sure the discounts are still in effect.
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GIVE
with
TARGET
Target will donate $5 million to schools as part of its "Give With Target" initiative this fall. The two-part giving campaign will provide $2.5 million in grants to in-need schools, as well as up to $2.5 million in Target gift cards to local schools through votes on Target's Facebook until September 8, 2012. Give with Target is part of Target's commitment to education. As a result of programs like this, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015. Learn more-Target. |
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2012 Lights On
Afterschool
On October 18, 2012, approximately 1 million people will gather at 7,500 sites across the country and worldwide on U.S. military bases to rally support for afterschool programs. With only 2 months left to plan a Lights on Afterschool event, it's easy to keep costs to a minimal and stay on track. To throw a successful Lights On Afterschool Event download the Lights On Afterschool Toolkit.
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Grandparents
Are
Special
Grandparents Day has been celebrated in the United States since 1978. Each year it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This annual event is a time to honor grandparents, and to give them an opportunity to express love to their grandchildren. An added benefit, young people will become aware of their sage wisdom and guidance that an older people can offer. This year, Grandparents Day will be celebrated on September 9, 2012. |
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Antibullying Education Campaign to Launched
DC-Parents and educators are urged to teach children to speak up if they witness bullying behaviors. President Obama's administration vowed to make anti-bullying a national priority. New TV, print, and media ads will run until October as public service announcements to raise awareness and ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for children. Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius states "cyberbullying has become a top concern as students increasingly communicate through social media, text messages, and the Internet." |
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Webinar Resources
The number of ways to share news continually grows. To help youth-serving organizations plot the best ways to reach their key audiences, America's Promise Alliance has a database of webinar's and recordings available for download. Topics include identifying messages, targeting audiences, and implementation strategies that will disseminate information efficiently and effectively. To locate resources on social media and similar communication resources visit America's Promise Alliance webpage.
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SciGirls CONNECT Partnership Program - Not just for girls!
Call for Applications
SciGirls is a National Girls Collaborative Project partner and is looking for organizations with a commitment to gender-equitable STEM programming for girls ages 8-13. Selected organizations will receive a full day of training, support via monthly webinars, and access to the SciGirls CONNECT online community. For questions contact Adine at aathoreen@tpt.org.
Application deadline is September 14, 2012.
Apply to:: http://scigirlsconnect.org
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Additional
Grant
Opportunities
(music education)
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Welcome back to school!
This time of year finds many school programs starting up and community-based groups transitioning from camps to expanded learning opportunities. We wish you well with that work and thank you for your commitment to children and youth.
We are committed to being a resource for you, so this email is packed with information. Thank you to Claudia Conner for her diligent work on this. Be sure to check out the items of importance to you -- the new Kids Count Data; Common Core Standards and out-of-school time; connecting with policy makers to share the benefits of expanded learning/afterschool; grant possibilities; potential professional development opportunities, and more.
Other resources are available on our newly designed website. While we continue to improve its content, please let us know what you think. One exciting feature allows new partners to connect with us by signing up online. Please share this with others you think might benefit from connecting with us. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Thank you, Kevyn Gero, for helping us progress in the social media world.
We hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Sincerely, Marcia Dvorak, Director |
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Policy
The Common Core Standards:
What Do They Mean for OST Time?
The Common Core State Standards are front and center on the national stage as states, districts, schools, and teachers prepare to roll them out over the next 2 or 3 years. Common Core Standards is the result of a two-year process facilitated by the National Governor's Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to develop a set of common standards for math and English Language Arts for students in grades K-12. The new standards will increase rigor and coherence of curriculum and assessment as adopted by 46 states. With growing momentum around the idea of expanded learning opportunities and the recognition that quality learning experiences can occur anywhere, anytime, heightened interest in OST programs that focus on academic programs as they try to comprehend standards and determine how they can support schools and districts in implement the Common Core Standards. If you have been following the discussions of Common Core, you may have heard reference to the "Habits of mind". CCSSO describes them as 'knowledge, skills, and dispositions that operate in tandem with the academic content in the standards.. and offer a portrait of students who, upon graduation, are prepared for college, career, and citizenship." Recent research suggests that the magnitude of change that will be required to teach the Common Core will be significant. To learn more about The Habits of Mind and Common Core Standards see the full report: The Common Core Standards: What Do They Mean for Out-of-School Time? or visit www.Kansasenrichment.net for additional CCS reports under the Common Core tab. |
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$60 Million 2012 Promise Neighborhood Funds
Recently, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 242 applications were submitted to compete for a share of the nearly $60 million in 2012 Promise Neighborhoods funds.
The DOE expects to award around $27 million during the first-year funding for up to seven new implementation grants and $7 million for up to 14 new planning grants. Of the 242 applications, 60 were for implementation grants and 182 were planning grants. The implementation grants will range from 3 to 5 years with the estimated first-year awards totaling $4 to $6 million each. New one-year planning grantees will be awarded up to $500,000 each. Remaining funds will provide second-year funding to the five implementation grantees awarded in 2011. To date, Promise Neighborhoods grants have invested in locally driven efforts to improve the lives of families and children living in impoverished communities.
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Building Relationships with Policy Makers-
Organizing a Site Visit
Inviting policy makers to visit your afterschool program is a powerful way to help them understand the value your program enhances the community. In fact, site visits can have a positive impact for many afterschool programs. Below are suggestions for initiating the process please see policy-maker visits for a complete toolkit of media resources, timelines, and case studies. - Locate the 'home district' officials address and phone number of your elected officials.
- Identify a few dates during the Congressional Recess when you can host a tour of your program.
- Call the district office to schedule a tour of your afterschool program for the policy maker and follow up with a personalized letter.
- Rally local parents, students, and staff who would be convincing spokespeople.
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News and Updates
KIDS COUNT Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being
The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2012 KIDS COUNT A Data Book shows both promising progress and discouraging setbacks for our nation's children. The report indicates that while their academic achievement and health improved in most states, their economic well-being continued to decline. This year's Data Book uses an updated index of 16 indicators of child well-being, organized into four categories: Economic Well-Being, Health, Education, and Family and Community. The new methodology reflects the tremendous advances in child development research since the first KIDS COUNT Data Book in 1990. You can find state specific information to create your own customized maps, graphs or charts. |
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New Release-Trends Among Young Adults Over
Three Decades, 1974-2006
| | This report describes patterns of continuity and change over time in four areas of transition into adulthood among young adults as measured 2 years after their senior year of high school. The four areas are postsecondary enrollment, labor force roles, family formation, and civic engagement. The analysis population is spring-term high school seniors in 1972, 1980, 1992, and 2004. The data comes from four separate NCES sponsored studies: the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS:72), High School and Beyond (HS&B), the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88), and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002). See Report |
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Making the Case for Deeper Learning
The National Research Council released a report highlighting the importance of "deeper learning." The report, Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century, was supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, the Pearson Foundation, the Raikes Foundation, Susan Crown Exchange, and the Stupski Foundation.
The report validates an educational approach called "deeper learning," which occurs as students acquire the ability to take the knowledge and skills they learn in one situation and apply it to a new situation. This process of transferring knowledge from one situation to another develops students' "21st century competencies," or transferable knowledge and skills. The report highlights three domains of knowledge and skills-cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal-and discusses their influence on positive outcomes in the areas of education, work and health.
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$27 Million Awarded to School Districts and Community Organizations for Physical Education and Nutrition Education
DC-The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded $27 million to school districts and community organizations who plan to implement comprehensive physical fitness and nutrition programs for students. "Exercise and good nutrition make for happier, healthier, more attentive and productive students, " said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "These grants will help students strengthen their bodies and in so doing, inspire their minds to confront the challenges that face them both inside the classroom and out."
The Office of Safe and Healthy Students, which manages PEP, supports efforts to create safe schools, ensure the health and well-being of students, teach students good citizenship and character, respond to crises, and prevent drug and alcohol abuse. For additional information on Physical Education Program grant programs and to view the 2012 grantees visit PEP. |
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Middle School Improvement
The Afterschool Alliance in partnership with MetLife Foundation has released part one of a four part series of briefs examining critical issues facing middle school youth and the vital role afterschool programs play in addressing these issues. The four briefs feature: how afterschool programs can aid in school improvement efforts; digital learning opportunities for middle schoolers; family engagement; and arts enrichment. They examine just a few of the ways afterschool programs support middle school youth, families and communities. Read the brief: Aferschool: An Ally in Promoting Middle School Improvement.
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Improving the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults:
Across the country, thousands of out-of-school time programs seek to improve the lives of children and youth. Child Trends identifies 43 rigorously evaluated out-of-school time programs for adolescents or young adults that have somewhat to very sizeable and statistically significant positive impacts on select outcome categories. Outcomes include behavior problems, substance use, reproductive health, social-emotional health, life skills, education and physical health. All programs included in the evaluation underwent rigorous analysis. Read the full report how OST programs are having significant positive impact.
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Building a Brighter Future: An Essential Agenda for
America's Young People
Source: National Human Services Assembly
Released on the same day that President Obama issued his fiscal year 2012 budget, the National Collaboration for Youth's policy recommendations are essential to meeting the needs of America's children and youth this year and beyond. This report contains an overarching set of recommendations for federal policy changes and investments designed to move the nation toward a brighter future that will invest in the needs of our children and youth. Read
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Professional Development
Webinars:
College Access 101: How Afterschool Can Bridge the Gap
Y4Y Webquest
This website provides 24/7 access to training and resources for 21st CCLC and programs. Try a 30-minute webquest at your next staff meeting.
Compassion Kansas Schedule
Wichita State University's Center for Community Support and Research
Fall 2012 Webinars
Teaching 21st-Century Skills Outside the School Day
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Training
Monday, Sept. 17, 2012,
8:30-2:30 pm
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Overland Park, Kansas
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Conferences
Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012,
Wichita, Kansas
Environmental Education in Kansas: Strength Through Diversity
October 19-20, 2012
Junction City, Kansas |
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Grant Opportunities
Economic Mobility Corporation
| Amount: | $50,000 | | Grant Period: | 10/1/2011 to 9/30/2012 | | Program: | Pathways Out of Poverty | | Program Area: | Expanding Economic Opportunity | | Geographic Focus: | United States: United States (At Large) |
The purpose of this grant is to continue to incubate a new workforce intermediary aimed at job retention and wage advancement for the disadvantaged and working poor. The mission of the Economic Mobility Corporation is designing, developing, and evaluating promising upward mobility strategies for low-income Americans.
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Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation
Changing the lives of the World's Children
The Foundation funds carefully selected grant requests that will assist vulnerable children in the United States and around the globe. |
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Coming....
New Announcement from the
Kansas Enrichment Network
in September
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