The voices of young people are still echoing in afterschool programs across the nation, in the halls of Congress, and across social media after a powerful Youth Voice Week! Youth voices materialized in so many different ways, and we heard hundreds of diverse perspectives, from poems to songs to art showcases.

While Goldsboro is home to generations of families, it's also home to the Westside Community Center, where the future generation is in good hands. Today, Knight oversees more than 100 kids at the Boys and Girls Club and personally knows their families. The club provides them with a safe place for learning, support and growth that’s completely free and just steps from their home.

Data collection can be one of the most useful – and most challenging – aspects of running an afterschool or summer program. A new Child Trends report commissioned by The Wallace Foundation explores the ways OST programs gauge their work, challenges to collecting data, and tips to address those obstacles.

Thousands of additional Hillsborough County students will be able to get a fresh meal before they head home from school. That brings the total number of schools offering a free supper to 190 in Hillsborough County. The meals are offered to any student at an eligible school who is taking part in an after-school enrichment program or tutoring at no cost to the parent.

The Martin County Out-of-school Time Quality Improvement Initiative supports out-of-school time programs, funded by the Children's Services Council of Martin County with ongoing quality coaching, onsite training, mentoring of youth development strategies and professional development. Prime Time called on Martin County afterschool professionals in February to attend a morning of professional development with hopes that each attendee would leave feeling empowered to make a greater impact on the children back at their programs.

This year we're looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. As always, the winning artwork will be printed on more than 50,000 posters that will be displayed at more than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool events around the world. The winning artist will be featured on our website, blog, and a national press release, and their afterschool program will be credited on the poster in addition to receiving the grand prize of $500! Artwork is due July 15, 2024!

Florida Power & Light Company awarded the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County a $10,000 grant to support an initiative to increase teacher knowledge of effective math and science instructional practices that align with Florida Standards through peer-to-peer learning of best practices.

Florida Tech's summer camps are officially open for registration. The five-day camp, with sessions in June, July, and August, will immerse students in science, technology, engineering, and math with exciting, hands-on challenges, including coding robots to complete challenges, designing video games, manufacturing basic electronic circuits, and learning about cybersecurity.

Last year, state records show only about a third of School 43 students passed Indiana’s third grade reading exam and 86% of students received free and reduced priced lunches, an indicator used to track school poverty. Community leaders and alumni say they have watched for years as IPS budgets have tightened and staff have come and gone. An education committee formed, volunteers reopened the school library and the MLK Center launched its after-school literacy lab — a program that operates independently but collaborates with IPS to support students.