NYS TARC Newsletter—February 2026
- NYS 21CCLC TARC
- Jan 27
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 2
Jump to section: NYSED News/Updates
Important Reminders from the NEW '25-'26 21st CCLC Timeline:
Perform Budget and Program Review and submit to NYSED via Survey Monkey. Apply any necessary Budget Amendments (FS10A, Budget Narrative, and MWBE documents) and/or Program Modification Requests.
Receive and review Local Evaluator’s Interim Report. Share information with stakeholders and integrate actionable findings and recommendations into the ongoing internal improvement cycle.
Participate in the required Program Directors’ Mid-Year Report. Submit responses to NYSED’s via Survey Monkey Apply (SMA) by February 27, 2026. This information is used by the NYSED Program Office to review program progress, and to select useful, summary findings available to all statewide stakeholders in the Program Directors’ Progress Brief.
Convene 3rd Advisory Board Meeting. Include all stakeholders. Topics might include review of program progress and achievement of interim goals/mid-year benchmarks, reflect on internal review of staff performance/participant engagement findings, and integrate evaluation findings into continuous improvement plans.
Afterschool21 Guidance
GPRA activity categories for 21st CCLC programs are found here.
Reach out to your Technical Assistance Resource Center with any questions.
PD/Events
Feb 5 & April 16 ENL and Bilingual Teacher Leadership Consortium
The Teacher Leadership Consortium (TLC) launched in January 2025 as part of the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages’ commitment to advancing culturally responsive and sustaining education across New York State. Created in partnership with Susan Lafond of NYSUT, the TLC offers a meaningful forum for educators to engage directly with one another, elevate the voices of practitioners, and collaboratively address the complex realities facing multilingual learners. In a shifting political landscape, this educator-driven space affirms the importance of honoring students’ identities, experiences, and ways of knowing.
Since its launch, the TLC has taken up topics such as equitable assessment practices, using data to support rather than sort students, and broadening access to the New York State Seal of Biliteracy as a pathway that recognizes and celebrates the linguistic assets of English Language Learners.
Our most recent session centered on Culturally Responsive Holidays, a timely opportunity to examine how classroom practices can either sustain or silence students’ cultural identities. Educators explored the differences between assimilation and acculturation, and affirmed pluralism as a core principle that guides us to embrace, not merely accommodate, the full diversity of our classrooms. By intentionally learning from students and positioning their cultural knowledge as a resource, educators strengthen relationships, cultivate belonging, and enrich learning for all.
The session concluded with the collaborative creation of a Padlet filled with shared resources, providing teachers with practical tools to design holiday experiences that reflect, respect, and sustain the cultures of every learner.
Feb 17 Connection and Community: Networking With a Purpose
9:30 - 11:30am
Join us for a virtual 21st CCLC Community Networking event! This will be an opportunity to connect with subgrantees across the region, explore program challenges, and share ideas. The session will offer space for self-reflection and peer collaboration, to enhance the work 21st CCLC programs do with students, staff, and communities.
Feb 27 The Mott Million Dollar Challenge (App Deadline)
Kids and teens everywhere have world-changing ideas that deserve the spotlight, and the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is their chance to shine. This national pitch competition invites K-12 students to submit a simple 30-90 second video sharing an idea that betters their very own school, home, or community.
Students can enter individually or in teams of up to three, and $1 million in prizes will be awarded across the competition! Submissions are due February 27, 2026.
Supported by funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is powered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance and Collaborative Communications.
Learn more and register here
March 4 Community Schools Advocacy Day (Albany, NY)
March 18 Afterschool Day of Action (Albany, NY)
April 29 - May 1 Empower Youth Success 2026 (NYS Network for Youth Success Annual Conference)
Registration is Now Open!
This is THE event for education professionals to push the boundaries and create high-quality expanded learning and development opportunities that support New York’s youth. Join us for one or more days of innovative learning, engagement, networking, and fun with the New York State Network for Youth Success!
Find more details and information on our website: https://networkforyouthsuccess.org/annual-conference/registration/
Register Now - https://networkforyouthsuccess.org/annual-conference/
April 30 21stCCLC Spring Conference (Day 2 of the Empower Youth Success 2026 Conference)
Register Now - https://networkforyouthsuccess.org/annual-conference/
On-Going Offering: Self-Paced Professional Development on Change Up Learning
We're happy to remind you that 21C subgrantees have access to a number of free, self-paced courses through our partnership with Change Up Learning! Each course takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete, offers a Certificate of Completion (with SACC credits), and features resources you can utilize at your site.
With over 50 topics and a growing library, consider one of these areas relevant to your role:
Youth Development: Ages + Stages: Child + Youth Development; Boosting Engagement & Belonging; Equitable and Inclusive Approaches to SEL
Curriculum and Lesson Planning: Curriculum + Lesson Plans; Culturally Responsive Practice; Educational and Fun Project-Based Learning
Leadership and Staff Development: Communication for Managers; Activating Leadership Skills; Effective Program Management
Equity and Inclusion: Introduction to Equity and Inclusion; Antiracism in Organizations; Understanding LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Get started today!
If you’re based in NYC, activate your account here.
If you’re based in the rest of NY state, activate your account here.
Resources
NTAC’s NEW COURSE! 21st CCLC Essentials for Program Leaders, Module 103 — Quality Counts: Delivering on Your Commitments
Get ready to strengthen your leadership skills with the next module of a new course designed for current and aspiring 21st CCLC program leaders. Organized into seven focused modules, this course offers practical guidance on the program’s purpose, structure, and requirements. The modules will be released individually over the coming months. The time it takes to complete each module will vary, with most ranging from 30 minutes to an hour. You can progress through each one at your own, comfortable pace. You don't have to complete each module in one sitting.
Link to register: https://21stcclcntac.org/user/register
NYS Project AWARE's Youth Resilience Toolkit (YRT)
Developed by the Rensselaer City School District’s Project AWARE team, in partnership with the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), the Youth Resilience Toolkit (YRT) is a practical resource for school districts designed to strengthen protective factors, promote student and adult resilience, and implement comprehensive school mental health programs. The Project AWARE team will guide participants through navigating the toolkit, with emphasis on implementing systemic mental health supports and accessing sustainable resources. Questions can be directed to the Project AWARE NYS Program Director, Jan Zadoorian, at jzadoorian@rcsd.k12.ny.us.
Cataloged by the Children's Funding Project (CFP), the Federal Funding Streams for Children and Youth Services database is a powerful tool that helps states, Native nations, territories, cities, counties, school districts, and nonprofits identify federal funding. The database covers 304 programs across 20 federal agencies from FY2019–2024, highlighting funding streams that support cradle-to-career initiatives. Click below to learn more about the database and explore program details and funding purposes.
New York State Guidance on Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students (Updated December 2025)
The New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG), New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Governor’s Office have updated joint guidance to reaffirm school districts’ obligations under state and federal law and to support schools as a safe haven where all students are welcomed and provided a free public education.
The guidance addresses:
enrollment and registration requirements;
collecting student information and accessing student records (FERPA);
law enforcement detention, interrogation, or removal of students from school property (including on school transportation);
bullying and harassment;
supporting students whose family members may be detained or deported; and
an appendix of resources.
Key reminders include that districts may not deny or discourage enrollment based on immigration status (or that of a parent/guardian), may not request Social Security numbers or other information that would reveal immigration status during enrollment, and must immediately enroll migrant and unhoused students even when typical documentation is not available.
Districts are encouraged to review directory information policies and FERPA notices, and to follow the guidance’s protocols for responding to law enforcement requests for student access or student information (including elevating requests to district leadership and counsel and notifying parents/guardians unless specifically prohibited).
Please find the guidance and translated versions at New York State Guidance on Safeguarding the Rights of Immigrant Students.
Questions may be directed to the OAG Civil Rights Bureau at civil.rights@ag.ny.gov.
New York State’s 250th Commemoration Commission seeks to highlight and commemorate not just the roles of New York’s citizens during the Revolutionary War, but also the subsequent 250 years of action toward the ideals of our nation’s founding principles.
This guide for educators includes a variety of information, including classroom resources from NYSED’s Office of Cultural Education, in support of P-12 exploration related to this historic commemoration.
More information about NY250 is available here: New York State 250th Commemoration Commission.
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Program Spotlights
Rest-of-State TARC Visits YMCA of CNY
On January 20th, 2026, the Rest of State TARC visited the YMCA of CNY. They observed kindergarteners enjoying their dinner while talking and socializing with one another. They also had the opportunity to watch a cooking class and a large variety of physical movement activities. Many of the activities were partnered with academics, including counting, writing, and reading exercises. The TARC also observed a crafting class and an engaging gym class for the students.
PS 19's Little Chefs
In continuation of learning about the Four Seasons, Kindergarten and 1st Grade at PS 19 used their knowledge of Winter to create fun snacks during our Little Chefs activity. They created Snowmen out of Bananas, Pretzels, Raspberries and Chocolate Chips, as well as Santa Hats out of Brownie bites, Strawberries and Frosting, with powdered sugar to simulate snow.”
-ANGEL DAVIS | Global Kids 8091
To be featured in an upcoming newsletter, submit your stories and photos here.
Evaluators' Corner
The 2023-24 New York State 21st Century Community Learning Centers Annual Performance Report can be viewed here.
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