This is your weekly newsletter featuring program spotlights, innovative resources, and training opportunities for the out-of-school-time industry in Florida. Together, we can ensure all children and youth in Florida have access to affordable, available, high-quality expanded learning opportunities to foster their success in school and beyond. | |
ACRES Cohort Registration | Florida After School has partnered with ACRES, a free coaching resource for out-of-school time providers and or programs, to provide two peer learning communities on Asking Purposeful Questions. ACRES strives is to guide educators or after-school staff with the knowledge and confidence to facilitate STEM in their after-school programs. Asking Purposeful Question Description: Questions are the beginning of a path towards discover, imagination, and STEM Exploration. | | | |
If you have an idea for an afterschool spotlight or would like to be featured, email Holly to help share your story! | |
Florida State University and EarlyBird Education bring new comprehensive literacy assessment & dyslexia screening tool to schools across the country | Boston-based company EarlyBird Education today announced a collaboration with Florida State University’s Florida Center for Reading Research that brings a new generation of early literacy assessment and dyslexia screening into classrooms across the country. The EarlyBird platform, already in use in PreK-2nd grade classrooms in 25 states—with third grade launching in 2025 — employs an interactive game to glean specific information about early elementary students’ reading skills. Students complete a computer adaptive assessment that includes screening and follow-up subtests to provide educators immediate information about core reading and language skills. Based on those results, EarlyBird then connects educators to instructional resources to tailor support for individual student needs during their optimal window of brain development. | | | |
Neal Communities donates $5,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County Odyssey of the Mind Program | Odyssey of the Mind is designed to be a fun, problem-solving competition program that teaches students teamwork, spontaneous thinking and creative skills while preparing them for real-world challenges. | | | |  |
Journalism is equally important to STEM in fostering critical thinking skills | It is crucial, more than ever, to teach STEM and journalism for developing critical thinking skills. Students should be motivated to take classes such as chemistry, biology and algebra alongside an introductory journalism course. | | | | |
Florida Department of Education honors top STEM students | With more than 111 student-scholars and their families in attendance, the two-day event, co-hosted by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation, celebrated the remarkable achievements of these young scholars. Notably, 37 students were awarded 1-year scholarships provided by State Farm and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. | | | | |
It's time for school-age advocates to raise their voices in state plans | The state child care planning template for the next three years is out! From now until July 1, State Administrative Agencies will be determining how to spend over $12 billion annually in federal Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) dedicated to helping eligible families find affordable, high-quality child care, afterschool, and summer programs for their children aged 0-13. | | | | |
Last Call: 2024 Florida Youth Space Art Contest | |
Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez encourages students in grades
K–5 to create an art piece inspired by the theme: Suit Up! Florida’s Space Suit of the Future. Finalists will win two tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Two lucky grand prize winners, one selected from each group, will have their artwork launched into space on an upcoming mission!
Submissions are due Friday, May 24.
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Hot off the press: Spring Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review | The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is happy to share the spring edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter with the afterschool community! In this edition, we highlight two articles - one focused on gender-equitable teaching practices and the other on infrastructural injustices in community-driven afterschool STEM. Both articles, which really dig into the intentionality of afterschool STEM programs and how that intention can either welcome more youth in or continue to keep them out, offer key insights for program practitioners, program leaders, funders, and policymakers. | | | | |
Author James Patterson launches transformational Literacy Classrooms | Bestselling author and literacy champion James Patterson is writing the next chapter in his partnership with the University of Florida by expanding access to the James Patterson Literacy Challenge to schools across the state and beyond. With his recent $2 million investment earlier this year, the program will enter a new phase, launching hundreds of James Patterson Literacy Classrooms across Florida and the nation beginning in fall 2024. | | | | |
LEARNING FROM OTHERS: New York takes steps to build stronger state afterschool system | New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced an investment of $100 million in grants for a new afterschool program, the Learning and Enrichment After-school Program Supports (LEAPS). This new program combines the existing Advantage and Empire State After-School programs into a single program which aims to standardize funding and eligibility to reduce administrative burdens for afterschool providers. | | | | |
The 2024 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is open! | |
The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is officially open, and this year we're looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. The artwork does not have to be created specifically for the Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest, but it must represent afterschool. 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 Saturday, June 15!
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Last call: Youth Entrepreneurship (YE) Mini Grant Opportunity Request for Applications Due 5.24.24 | Florida Afterschool is focused on expanding the entrepreneurial mindset of Florida's youth. We are now seeking out-of-school time programs looking to empower young people by expanding or launching entrepreneurship opportunities during their summer learning programs. Ten programs will be selected to receive a mini-grant of $500 that can be used to support the implementation of a program. | | | |
Help us help you! Take the Florida Afterschool Tools & Resources Survey | Make time to answer this brief survey (estimated time to complete is less than five minutes). The information you provide will allow us to make adjustments to the tools and resources we provide to help you be more informed and effective as afterschool educators. Respond and be entered into the raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card. | | | | |
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Teen Science Cafe Fellows Information Session
Information Session: Thursday, May 23 from 4:30PM-5:30PM
The Teen Science Cafe (TSC) Fellows initiative is a ten-month training program designed to help informal educators implement Teen Science Cafes in their community. Teen Science Cafe Fellows receive one-on-one support from TSC Guides to launch a cafe program and host three cafe events during the year. Fellows receive a $2,500 stipend to support their work.
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Good Sports Equipment Donation Opportunity Portfolio Program Info Session
Information session: Wednesday, May 22 at 12PM & Tuesday May 28 at 1PM
Is your program or school in need of new sports equipment, footwear, and apparel? Come join the Good Sports team to learn about our mission and our new portfolio program. We'll walk through our eligibility criteria, the requirements if your organization is selected, and the application process. We'll end with an opportunity to answer your questions. Complete this Google form and a Good Sports team member will send you a Zoom link closer to the date to access the session. We will host two info sessions and will cover the same material in both.
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Discover Engineering's "Chats with Change Makers" - Fredy Barrera Aguilar, Product Development Engineer at TE Connectivity
Webinar: Thursday, May 30 at 1PM
Does your out-of-school time (OST) program want to build belonging and engagement in interactive science learning? Project BRAINY is open to all OST programs that regularly provide learning opportunities to middle-school youth. Project Brainy is a six-session, neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables middle-school students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Up to 20 youth-serving OST programs from across the U.S. will receive $1,500, training, and continuous support to implement Project BRAINY, a neuroscience, literacy, and SED-focused curriculum.
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Discover Engineering's "Chats with Change Makers" - Fredy Barrera Aguilar, Product Development Engineer at TE Connectivity
Webinar: Thursday, May 30 at 1PM
Does your out-of-school time (OST) program want to build belonging and engagement in interactive science learning? Project BRAINY is open to all OST programs that regularly provide learning opportunities to middle-school youth. Project Brainy is a six-session, neuroscience-based curriculum designed for OST programs. The curriculum enables middle-school students to build social-emotional skills, engage in interactive STEM learning, and increase literacy. Up to 20 youth-serving OST programs from across the U.S. will receive $1,500, training, and continuous support to implement Project BRAINY, a neuroscience, literacy, and SED-focused curriculum.
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Teens Lead in Computer Science
Webinar: Tuesday, June 4 from 12PM-1PM
Teens can develop a wide variety of interests and skills, including leadership by working or volunteering in out-of-school time computer science programs. Learn more about how teen leaders use their skills to lead computer science experiences and build meaningful relationships and help young people see themselves as computer scientists. Teen leaders are essential components of many 4-H programs across the US. Join this virtual workshop to learn more about how the 4-H experiential learning model helps young people grow and develop through these experiences. This approach develops leadership and prepares young people to be the leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of our future.
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Info Session about Micro-credentials and Digital Badging
Webinar: Thursday, June 6 from 4PM-5PM
ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) is excited to offer additional Information Sessions about STEM micro-credentials, which are competency-based, digital badges for afterschool and out-of-school professionals offered through the National Afterschool Association. These sessions are free, live, interactive, and one hour in length. You will learn about what Micro-credentials are and how to apply for them.
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! We are a recognized leader for providing high-quality professional learning experiences that are timely, relevant, and engaging. Join us in October for our annual conference as we convene at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Get ready for fresh ideas for youth engagement, strategies for business and staff development, and tools for local advocacy. Learn more about what to expect here. | |
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2024 Afterschool Professional of the Year!
Out-of-school time professionals play an important role in the lives of the children and youth they serve and they deserve recognition and support! Who from your afterschool program is a super star and deserves to be recognized? Help us find the "2024 Florida Afterschool Professional of the Year." Nominate your local afterschool super star today!
Nominations are due Monday, June 17, 2024.
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Florida After School, Inc. | FLafterschool.com
For more information about Florida After School, Inc. and its many partners, connect with us on social media.
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