News
The Ohio Afterschool Network issues a bi-monthly newsletter containing the latest in afterschool news, advocacy, research, resources, and upcoming events. The OAN eNewsletter is sent via email to members. Not a member? Join now and begin receiving this valuable information.
♦ Register your event for Lights On Afterschool
♦ OAA announces Fall Conference
♦ Applications for the 2010 Out of the Box Prizes are now being accepted
♦ Child Trends Brief released, How Out-of-School time Program Quality is Related to Adolescent Outcomes
♦ Global Learning in Afterschool Self-Assessment Tool Available
Afterschool In the News
Ohio is launching its new Credit Flexibility Program for the 2010-11 academic year. This new plan puts Ohio on the front lines of a transition away from a century-old standard of associating classroom time with learning. While stakeholders agree that giving students the chance to personalize their education is theoretically preferable, it is uncertain how effective the alternatives are, how best to assess them, and whether today’s educators are equipped to administer them. Read the article.
The Youth Today article, Prove It or Lose It, reports how the White House’s move to fund “effective” programs while eliminating federal programs that don’t work has sparked intense rivalries among youth organizations as they compete to prove their value. Read the article
A recent Harris Interactive article in Trends and Tudes, Exploring the Link Between Student Satisfaction and Achievement, reveals that students, ages 8-18, tend to have higher GPAs when they are more satisfied with their overall school experience. The signs of school satisfaction, which includes having pride in their school, contentment with their teachers and academic preparation and feeling safe in their learning environment – may be key to academic success. Read the article
Congratulations to the following OAN members who have been selected to serve on the writing teams drafting revised licensing regulations as part of the creation of the Center for Early Childhood Education, housed at the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). This process will create one licensing system for child care and school-age care, instead of the two systems that currently operate at ODE and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:
• Health and Nutrition writing team- Cheryl Kish, ODE; Linda Day Mackessey (team lead), YMCA of Central Ohio and Ohio Association of Child Care Providers; Kevin James, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland
• Records writing team- Fannie Metcalf, Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center
• Safe and Healthy Environments writing team - Karen Galloway, Tri-County Educational Service Center; Julie Piazza-King, Berea Children's Home; Cathy Heck, Horizon Activities Centers
• Staffing writing team - Sara Lewis, CincyAfterSchool
• Licensing writing team - Karen Jackson, Delaware City Schools; Tasha Johnson, Dayton Christian Center
• Program writing team - Peggy Martinez, Whitehall City Schools (team lead)
On June 18, 2010, Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle announced that forty-two Ohio schools have been awarded a total of $95 million over the next three years in federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds. The grant will be used to enhance practices and support systems to improve student achievement based on student data. Read more.
The Improving Nutrition for American's Children Act was introduced on June 10, 2010 by U.S. Representatives George Miller (D-CA), Healthy Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Todd Russell Platts (R-PA), and other lawmakers. The proposed law would increase access to nutritious meals, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, enhance the quality of meals in school and child-care programs, implement new school food safety guidelines, encourage connecting schools and feeding programs to local farms and produce providers, and encourage community efforts to improve overall child wellness. Read more.
In its second year, Diplomas Now, an intervention programs for students at risk of dropping out is producing impressive results. As reported in the USA Today article “To fight ‘dropout factories,’ school program starts young”, by Greg Toppo, Feltonville Middle School of Arts and Science in Philadelphia brings in “a second shift of adults” to assist teachers with tutoring and mentoring students, enticing students to attend after-school classes and providing references to social workers for services, counseling, and medical care. Read the article.
Alameda County (CA) law enforcement leaders highlighted finding for a new Fight Crime: Invest in Kids report, California’s After-School Commitment: Keeping Kids on Track and Out of Trouble during their visit with students at Melrose Leadership Academy’s Community Bridge after-school program. District Attorney Nancy O’Malley stated that “After-school programs encourage kids to thrive in school and life, while helping them avoid the traps of delinquent behavior, including drug use, vandalism and gang affiliation". Read the article.
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