Jump to section:
Important Reminders from the 21st CCLC Timeline:
NYSED sent a letter on November 21st to program directors, program evaluators, day school principals and their superintendents explaining all federal, state and local data reporting requirements for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program. Also attached in the email, are privacy and security agreements between the New York State Education Department and contractors Measurement Incorporated (21st CCLC State Evaluator) and Thomas Kelly Software Associates (provider of EZReports data collection and reporting system). You can download the letter here.
Convene 2nd Advisory Board Meeting. Include all stakeholders. Topics might include review of initial program implementation efforts, enrollment/participation, family engagement plans/activities, staff development plans, internal improvement cycle/QSA process.
Participate in the first Evaluator’s Site Visit, conducted by the Local Program Evaluator. This is an opportunity to open the program to the observation of the partnering evaluator, collaborate to track progress indicators, and to receive valuable, actionable feedback about program implementation. Summary findings from this visit can be used to inform the continuous improvement cycle and communicate progress updates to staff and stakeholders.
Submit to NYSED the Evaluability Checklist, completed in collaboration with the Local Program Evaluator. Send by December 31, 2022, to EMSC21STCCLC@nysed.gov. See SMV Indicator H-2 and email sent from NYSED dated 7/28/22.
Enter program participation and activity data for fall 2022 into EZReports by December 31, 2022.
Conduct required Internal Review/Check-In of Program Service Delivery. This is the opportunity for Program Leaders to observe their staff using a formalized process/protocol while staff are delivering programming to participants; they review the implementation of activities as designed/planned, the performance of staff, and the levels of engagement/targeted responses from participants. This provides valuable formative feedback to integrate into the internal improvement cycle. Additional information about this requirement and the Program Activity Implementation Review (PAIR) is located in the Site Monitoring Visit Tool (SMV), Indicator D-3.
Keep contact information up to date in EZReports and with your Resource Center so that you don’t miss out on any important information, deadlines, and/or reminders!
Voluntary Zoom Session Gatherings!
The 21st CCLC Resource Centers are pleased to announce that we will be holding voluntary Zoom sessions for 21st CCLC subgrantees to gather and network. These informal meetings will be an opportunity to connect with peers and colleagues, discuss questions and challenges, and receive guidance from the Resource Center teams. All program staff and evaluators are invited to attend.
For NYC subgrantees:
You can choose whichever date suits your schedule.
Please note that each session will be capped at the first 25 registrants.
Please limit your registration to one of the sessions, to ensure that all subgrantees have the opportunity to attend these limited-capacity sessions.
Click on an upcoming NYC session below to register:
For RoS subgrantees:
You can choose whichever date suits your schedule.
Please note that each session will be capped at the first 45 registrants.
Please limit your registration to one of the sessions, to ensure that all subgrantees have the opportunity to attend these limited-capacity sessions.
Click on an RoS session below to register:
Please note: The Zoom information will be provided upon registration. Please contact the Resource Center if you have not received the Zoom information.
PD/Events
REQUIRED:
Save the Date! 21st CCLC Spring Conference March 24, 2023 at the Troy Hilton Garden Inn More details to follow. This event is in collaboration with the NYS Network for Youth Success annual conference.
**Refer to our website for all of the information from our Fall 2022 Events.
Other (non-required) events that may interest you:
Ongoing: Self-Paced Professional Development
The Resource Centers have partnered with Change Impact to offer a unique PD experience with Change Up Learning – an interactive online PD platform. Change Up Learning offers a variety of self-paced courses on relevant topics including Equity and Inclusion, Trauma-informed Practices, Positive Youth Development and more! These free courses are not mandatory, but available to support 21st CCLC subgrantees – and have been approved for New York State SACC credits. Create an account and access the growing library of courses by using the custom links below:
If you’re based in NYC, activate your account here.
If you’re based in the rest of NY state, activate your account here.
On-Demand Recordings: Cultivating Equity in Community Schools Using the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework: A Four-Part Regional Conference Series
Through Dec '22: Network for Youth Success Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Training Series
Dec 7 & Jan 18: ETAC CoP Events Series: How to Develop a Father-Friendly Program
Dec 7: NYS Network for Youth Success Event: Grant Writing: Fund Development for Sustaining High-Quality Programs
Dec 8, Jan 12, & Feb 2: ETAC Mental Health and Well-Being with Communication Pathologist and expert Dr. Caroline Leaf
Dec 13, Mar 7, & May 3: C/WTAC CS/MTSS Community of Practice with Ali Hearn, LCSW: Holding It All, Together
Dec 14, Mar 9, Apr 13: ETAC CoP Event Series: ETAC’s Community Schools RoadMap Tool
Dec 16:
ETAC Webinar Release: Designing a Newcomers Program for Families and Students
Jan 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, & 19: NYS Network for Youth Success: Health and Safety for SAC Directors—Six-Part Series
Jan 25:
Save the Date: Afterschool Advocacy Day!
Resources
Revised Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks Released
On Monday, November 14th, NYSED released revisions to its Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks for voluntary implementation. These revisions align the benchmarks with the agency’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Frameworks, as well as its Civic Readiness Initiative.
To develop these revisions, SED partnered with the national Center for the Improvement of Social-Emotional Learning and School Safety (CISELSS) and the Region 2 Comprehensive Center at WestEd.
The content development group also included teachers, young people, administrators, parents, community school leaders, a representative from BOCES’ School/Curriculum Development Network’s SEL Framework group, experts in SEL including a representative from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and NYSED staff leading work on Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Civic Readiness, Family & Community Engagement, and Special Education.
Over a year, the team developed revised benchmarks that reflect deep listening with the young people and adults we serve. These revisions center identity, agency, and belonging, and are explicit about SEL’s purpose to empower young people and adults in their teaching and learning environment and offer them the necessary skills to engage with others productively.
The revised Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks are posted on NYSED’s SEL web page.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Support Services at 518-486-6090 or via email at studentsupportservices@nysed.gov.
STEMIE Fest 2022
Registration is now open for STEMIEFest on December 8, 2022. STEMIEFest is a gathering of families, early childhood and early childhood special education professionals, faculty, and others, to engage in innovative and inclusive STEM learning experiences as well as explore and develop a model to support young children with and without disabilities in early STEM learning. This year’s event will be a half-day virtual event and it will be followed by a series of targeted professional development opportunities in 2023. STEMIE is a Department-funded research center.
NASA Engineering Activity Playlist
Looking for a sequence of activities you can implement in your afterschool program today? Say goodbye to googling or searching on Pinterest. Use the following activities in sequence to support youth in building an engineering mindset with NASA activities:
Lesson 1: Build an Airplane (Engineering Design Process Activity) - Build an airplane that has ailerons, elevators, and a rudder.
Lesson 2: Build a Satellite (Engineering Design Process Activity) - This lesson provides students with an understanding of satellites, their use and structure, and power systems. In this potentially multi-day activity, students will use the engineering design process to design, build, test, and improve a model satellite.
Lesson 3: Women@NASA: Role Models (Role Models and Mentors Connection) - Watch a video of one of the women who are engineers and work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. After watching a video, have the youth write a paragraph about the engineer, and one question they would ask the engineer.
Lesson 4: Make a Soda Can Engine (Engineering Design Process) - Students will investigate the action-reaction principle (Newton's third law of motion) by creating a water-propelled engine. By observing the device in action and changing certain variables, students will explore the properties of engines and the dynamics behind directionality and thrust.
Lesson 5: Women@NASA: Careers (Role Models and Mentor Connection) - Many people dream of careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Hear about the fascinating careers at NASA. After watching the short video, youth write a paragraph about the career they might want in STEM.
Looking for EVEN more at NASA?! Activity Toolkit: Engineering is Elementary's NASA Partnership free units - A suite of free, NASA-funded STEM resources for students in grades 3-8. All resources are research-based and classroom-tested. They are designed to support students’ understanding of space, while helping them see themselves as capable problem solvers.
Transforming Education Student Survey
The World’s Largest Lesson (WLL), NatApp, and their partnership with UNICEF and UNESCO, are empowering students globally to realize the power of data as they become advocates for quality education. This year’s WLL campaign is offering the first ever global, playful survey that allows students (ages 10 – 18) to share their views and ideas for education. Students will be asked about the purpose of education, how they learn best, and what they would change and improve for the future. The student survey is anonymous, only takes 10 minutes, and is available on and offline so that everyone can share their ideas. WLL offers a related lesson plan on Becoming a Factivist. The goal is to engage as many 10-18 year-olds in a data learning experience where they can demonstrate the power of data and share their voices for change. The student survey is open until January 31, 2023.
The New York State Center for School Safety: Supporting Gender-Diverse Students, Climate Connection, and What We Are Reading
The New York State Center for School Safety is a great resource for student safety and well-being. Along with the variety of resources already present across their website, the homepage scrollbar will feature resources on supporting gender-diverse students and understanding grief and its impact on your school community.
Supporting Gender Diverse Students
As awareness, attitudes, and language evolve, students have become increasingly aware of and comfortable with exploring different aspects of their identity. It is critical that, throughout this exploration and development, schools remain safe and inclusive spaces full of informed and compassionate adults that are equipped to support students across the gender spectrum. You can find the following resources linked on our website’s homepage scrollbar to support your team’s efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for gender diverse students:
Climate Connection
This month’s edition of the Climate Connection focuses on understanding grief, both on the individual and community level. In addition to exploring the different types and causes of grief that may affect members of your school community, it also outlines the short and long-term effects and guidance on how schools can support healing. You can find November’s Climate Connection featured on our website’s homepage scrollbar.
What We Are Reading
We continue to update our What We Are Reading section on our homepage scrollbar with resources and articles related to safety. This week, please find:
A School Safety Challenge: Keeping Crowds Secure Under the Glare of Friday Night Lights
What SEL Is – and What It Is Not
CDC: 3 in 4 high schoolers faced potential trauma during pandemic
Families Are Students’ First SEL Teachers Here’s How to Engage Them
Our team is available to assist you with questions, requests for information, resources, and support. We appreciate and thank you for the very important work that you do!
The New York State Center for School Safety
Program Spotlights
Project #8092
Just for Kids at Union East Elementary in Buffalo
Just for Kids is a non-profit childcare program in Western New York that provides age-appropriate school enrichment services. Their Union East team (pictured) has grown in a short amount of time rebounding back from a pandemic and is a new of a 21 st Century Grant recipient. When other services were devastated by the pandemic, their team took the hit and kept moving forward despite ever-changing obstacles. Their team pulled together for the kids and took efforts to another level to enhance social-emotional learning that will ultimately foster the resiliency needed to thrive in an academic setting. The heart of their team reflects the Just for Kids name and core values. Just like the city of Buffalo and its community partners, JFK is diverse and resilient.
The following comments are from site coordinator of the JFK 21 st Century Grant, Mr. Casey:
"The 21st Century Grant has brought an entire area together. What was a struggle is now
the beacon of hope. What was an uphill battle, is now becoming the gold standard. Our team is compiled of educators, researchers, administrators, and striving young professionals lead by WNY roots with years of experience. Previously having earned Afterschool Program of the Year among many other awards, our leadership has recently achieved the Network for Youth Success Quality Leadership Award in 2022. Having the grant as part of our efforts toward the future will ensure the next generation of children can handle what comes their way, and JFK is here to stay!
We love working with the kids in our area and building the community partnerships because at the end of the day, the kids benefit from them. We’ve all heard it takes a village to raise a child, and we are doing just that as we always have. To be the best, it cannot be done alone. It must be a compilation of community partnerships all striving for an ever-reaching goal. To those that are reaching out to us to build the community relationships that foster child development, thank you. To the staff that show up day in and day out, thank you! I am so proud of our Union East team and JFK. Each of our team members brings a skill set that benefits our children. To the Albany mentors and training facilitators, your guidance is greatly appreciated. This grant has brought literal tears of gratitude to many of our children’s guardians. It is an honor to have been selected for the 21 st Century Grant, and to be part of this wonderful growing Western New York family."
Project #8077 Center for Family Life's Reading Buddies Program in Sunset Park
Students from the CFL at MS 136 and MS 821 programs have launched the first-ever CFL Reading Buddies program. Middle school students will be visiting units 1-4 every other Wednesday during their Reading Rainbow activity period to read aloud a selection of children's books to participants. "Off" weeks are spent preparing for the following week's visit. We are so proud of the middle school participants' dedication and hard work!
Project #8089
Fund for the City of New York
The program staff and students created an awesome submission to Lights on After School highlighting the arts programming at Long Island City High School. The staff and students are off to a great start! Check out the video below.